Daily Current Affairs – 7 October 2026 brings today’s important national, international, economy, banking, science, technology, defence and sports updates for SSC, Banking, Railway, UPSC, State PSC and other competitive examinations.
🇮🇳 National Current Affairs
1. RBI Raises Repo Rate to 5.50%
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) raised the policy repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.50% on 7 October 2026.
- Previous repo rate: 5.25%
- New repo rate: 5.50%
- Increase: 25 basis points
- This was the first repo rate hike since February 2023.
- The decision of the six-member MPC was unanimous.
2. RBI Changes Policy Stance to Calibrated Tightening
The RBI Monetary Policy Committee changed its policy stance from Neutral to Calibrated Tightening.
The RBI raised its FY 2026-27 real GDP growth projection to 7.1% and raised the inflation projection to 5.2%.
Exam Point: The repo rate is the rate at which the RBI lends money to commercial banks against eligible securities.
3. India’s Foreign Exchange Reserves Decline
India’s foreign exchange reserves declined for the fourth consecutive week to around $734.6 billion.
The reserves had reached approximately $785.71 billion on 4 September 2026. The recent decline reflects RBI intervention in the foreign exchange market and other external pressures.
4. India Mobile Congress 2026 Begins
The 10th edition of India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026 began at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi on 7 October.
- Dates: 7–10 October 2026
- Theme: “Scale Without Boundaries”
- Focus areas: 5G, 6G, AI, semiconductors, cybersecurity, quantum communication and digital infrastructure
- Expected participation: 100+ countries
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the event on 8 October 2026.
5. First-Ever National Household Travel Survey Released
The National Statistics Office released the findings of India’s first-ever National Household Travel Survey (NHTS).
- Survey period: July 2025 – June 2026
- Households covered: 4,92,023
- Persons covered: 20,34,371
- Villages covered: 14,274
- Urban blocks covered: 10,377
Exam Point: Two-wheelers were the predominant mode for commuting to fixed workplaces, accounting for 42.6% of workers.
6. SME Growth Fund Gets ₹10,000 Crore Commitment
The Union Cabinet approved a commitment of ₹10,000 crore towards establishing the Small and Medium Enterprises Growth Fund (SME Growth Fund).
The fund aims to provide patient equity capital to high-potential SMEs with demonstrated business viability and scalability.
It is intended to support champion enterprises across manufacturing, services, technology, innovation-driven sectors and strategic value chains.
🛡️ Defence Current Affairs
7. India’s First Indigenous Fleet Support Ship ‘Surya’ Launched
Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh launched India’s first indigenously designed and built Fleet Support Ship (FSS-1), named ‘Surya’, at Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), Visakhapatnam.
- Builder: Hindustan Shipyard Limited
- Location: Visakhapatnam
- Role: At-sea replenishment and logistics support to naval vessels
- FSS-5 keel was also laid during the event.
The launch strengthens India’s indigenous naval shipbuilding capability.
8. 2,000th Aero-Engine Milestone at HAL Koraput
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s Koraput division marked the delivery of its 2,000th aero-engine, highlighting India’s growing indigenous aerospace manufacturing capability.
🌐 International & Legal Current Affairs
9. Bimal N. Patel Sworn In as ITLOS Judge
Indian jurist Dr. Bimal N. Patel was sworn in as a judge of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS).
He is among five new members who began their nine-year terms on 1 October 2026.
Exam Point: ITLOS is an international judicial body established under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
10. Nobel Prize in Physics 2026 Awarded to Francis Halzen
Francis Halzen was awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physics for decisive contributions to the IceCube Neutrino Observatory and the discovery of high-energy neutrinos of astrophysical origin.
The IceCube observatory is located in the Antarctic ice at the South Pole and studies high-energy neutrinos arriving from the cosmos.
🌱 Social Development
11. Kerala Launches WOMN Initiative
Kerala’s Women and Child Development Department is launching WOMN – Women on the Move and Menstrual Needs.
The initiative aims to improve access to affordable menstrual-hygiene products and safe disposal facilities for women and girls while travelling.
- Initial pilot: 14 KSRTC terminals/depots
- Sanitary napkin packet: 3 napkins for ₹10
🏏 Sports Current Affairs
12. Smriti Mandhana Appointed India Women’s Cricket Captain
The BCCI appointed Smriti Mandhana as the full-time white-ball captain of the Indian Women’s Cricket Team.
She succeeds Harmanpreet Kaur, who stepped down from captaincy after a successful leadership tenure.
Mandhana has previously led India in 18 T20Is and 4 ODIs.
13. India Defeats West Indies in First T20I
India defeated the West Indies by 8 wickets in the first T20I of the five-match series at Lucknow.
- West Indies: 171 all out
- India: 172/2 in 14.4 overs
- Shreyas Iyer: 102* off 43 balls
- India lead the series: 1–0
It was Shreyas Iyer’s maiden T20I century and India’s tenth consecutive T20I victory.
14. India Continues Strong T20I Winning Run
India’s victory over West Indies extended the team’s winning streak in T20I cricket to 10 consecutive matches.
The result came shortly after India’s successful Asian Games 2026 campaign, where the men’s cricket team won the gold medal.
💼 Economy & Employment
15. India’s MSME Ecosystem Expands
According to the latest government data, India’s MSME ecosystem continues to expand rapidly.
- MSME registrations under Udyam and Udyam Assist Platform: approximately 9.78 crore
- Reported employment opportunities: approximately 43.28 crore
- Female-owned enterprises: approximately 37.6% of registrations
The SME Growth Fund is designed to provide additional growth capital to high-potential enterprises.
⚡ Quick Revision – 7 October 2026
- RBI repo rate – 5.50%
- Repo rate hike – 25 basis points
- RBI policy stance – Calibrated Tightening
- RBI FY27 GDP projection – 7.1%
- RBI FY27 inflation projection – 5.2%
- India’s FX reserves – $734.6 billion
- IMC 2026 theme – Scale Without Boundaries
- IMC 2026 venue – Yashobhoomi, New Delhi
- National Household Travel Survey – First-ever all-India household travel survey
- SME Growth Fund commitment – ₹10,000 crore
- First indigenous Fleet Support Ship – Surya
- Surya launched at – Hindustan Shipyard Limited, Visakhapatnam
- ITLOS new Indian judge – Bimal N. Patel
- Nobel Physics 2026 – Francis Halzen
- New India women’s cricket captain – Smriti Mandhana
- India vs West Indies 1st T20I – India won by 8 wickets
- Shreyas Iyer – 102* off 43 balls
❓ Daily Current Affairs MCQs – 7 October 2026
1. What is the new RBI repo rate after the October 2026 MPC meeting?
A) 5.00%
B) 5.25%
C) 5.50%
D) 5.75%
Answer: C) 5.50%
2. By how many basis points did the RBI raise the repo rate?
A) 10 basis points
B) 15 basis points
C) 25 basis points
D) 50 basis points
Answer: C) 25 basis points
3. What is the RBI’s new monetary policy stance?
A) Accommodative
B) Neutral
C) Calibrated Tightening
D) Hawkish Neutral
Answer: C) Calibrated Tightening
4. What is the theme of India Mobile Congress 2026?
A) Digital India First
B) Scale Without Boundaries
C) Connected India 2047
D) Digital Future for All
Answer: B) Scale Without Boundaries
5. Where is India Mobile Congress 2026 being held?
A) Bharat Mandapam
B) HITEX Hyderabad
C) Yashobhoomi, New Delhi
D) Pragati Maidan
Answer: C) Yashobhoomi, New Delhi
6. Which was India’s first-ever all-India household travel survey?
A) National Mobility Survey
B) National Household Travel Survey
C) India Transport Survey
D) National Commuter Survey
Answer: B) National Household Travel Survey
7. What is the government commitment towards the SME Growth Fund?
A) ₹5,000 crore
B) ₹7,500 crore
C) ₹10,000 crore
D) ₹15,000 crore
Answer: C) ₹10,000 crore
8. What is the name of India’s first indigenous Fleet Support Ship?
A) Samarth
B) Surya
C) Shakti
D) Vikrant
Answer: B) Surya
9. Where was Fleet Support Ship Surya launched?
A) Mumbai
B) Kochi
C) Chennai
D) Visakhapatnam
Answer: D) Visakhapatnam
10. Who was sworn in as a judge of ITLOS from India?
A) Bimal N. Patel
B) Harsh Vardhan Shringla
C) Sanjay Verma
D) Vikram Misri
Answer: A) Bimal N. Patel
11. Who won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physics?
A) Francis Halzen
B) Karl Deisseroth
C) Peter Hegemann
D) Georg Nagel
Answer: A) Francis Halzen
12. What does WOMN stand for?
A) Women on the Move and Menstrual Needs
B) Women Organisation for Menstrual Nutrition
C) Women Mobility and Nutrition Network
D) Women’s Opportunity and Menstrual Network
Answer: A) Women on the Move and Menstrual Needs
13. Who was appointed captain of the Indian Women’s Cricket Team?
A) Harmanpreet Kaur
B) Smriti Mandhana
C) Jemimah Rodrigues
D) Shafali Verma
Answer: B) Smriti Mandhana
14. By how many wickets did India defeat West Indies in the first T20I?
A) 5 wickets
B) 6 wickets
C) 8 wickets
D) 10 wickets
Answer: C) 8 wickets
15. Who scored an unbeaten 102 in India’s first T20I against West Indies?
A) Ishan Kishan
B) Abhishek Sharma
C) Shreyas Iyer
D) Sanju Samson
Answer: C) Shreyas Iyer
🎯 Exam Takeaway
Today’s most important revision points are RBI repo rate – 5.50%, Calibrated Tightening, IMC 2026 – Scale Without Boundaries, SME Growth Fund – ₹10,000 crore, Fleet Support Ship Surya, Bimal N. Patel – ITLOS, Francis Halzen – Nobel Physics 2026, Smriti Mandhana – India women’s captain and Shreyas Iyer – 102* vs West Indies.
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