Daily Current Affairs 8 October 2026 brings together the developments that are most useful for SSC, Banking, UPSC, Defence and other competitive examinations. Instead of treating the day as a list of headlines, this edition explains the numbers, institutions and background behind five developments: the RBI’s October monetary-policy decision, Indian Air Force Day, SAREX-2026, India’s satellite-communication regulatory position and a new ISRO-IIG space-science outreach programme in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
1. RBI raises repo rate to 5.50%
The Reserve Bank of India’s Monetary Policy Committee held its 63rd meeting from 5 to 7 October 2026 under Governor Sanjay Malhotra. The MPC unanimously raised the policy repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.50% and changed the monetary-policy stance to calibrated tightening.
| Policy variable | October 2026 decision |
|---|---|
| Policy repo rate | 5.50% |
| Change | +25 basis points |
| Standing Deposit Facility | 5.25% |
| MSF rate | 5.75% |
| Bank Rate | 5.75% |
| Policy stance | Calibrated tightening |
The decision matters because a policy-rate increase affects the cost of short-term funds in the financial system and therefore has implications for lending rates, liquidity conditions, inflation expectations and demand. For banking examinations, remember that the MPC decides the policy repo rate, while the RBI implements monetary policy.
The RBI projected real GDP growth for 2026-27 at 7.1%, with quarterly projections of 7.2% for Q2, 6.9% for Q3 and 6.8% for Q4. CPI inflation was projected at 5.2% for 2026-27, with Q2 at 4.9%, Q3 at 6.0% and Q4 at 5.7%. The combination of growth resilience and inflation pressure explains why the latest decision is particularly important for Banking Awareness preparation.
2. Indian Air Force Day: 8 October
Air Force Day is observed on 8 October. The date marks the establishment of the Indian Air Force in 1932. In 2026, the occasion is especially useful for defence-awareness questions because it connects a current observance with the institutional history of the IAF.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted the Air Warriors on 8 October 2026 and highlighted their courage and commitment to protecting India’s skies. The professional head of the Indian Air Force is the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal A. P. Singh.
For static GK, distinguish the establishment year 1932, Air Force Day on 8 October, and the headquarters of the IAF at New Delhi. Questions may also connect the IAF with its role in air defence, air mobility, surveillance and strategic air operations.
3. SAREX-2026 tests India’s maritime search-and-rescue preparedness
The Indian Coast Guard is conducting SAREX-2026, the 12th National Maritime Search & Rescue Exercise. A key exercise event is being held off the Paradip coast, while the 24th National Maritime Search and Rescue Board Meeting is being convened at Bhubaneswar.
The scale is notable. The exercise involves 15 Coast Guard ships, two Dornier aircraft, three Advanced Light Helicopters, one Chetak helicopter, IAF C-130J and Mi-17 aircraft, two Indian Navy ships and civil/state assets. It also includes 32 observers from 30 countries.
The simulated scenario includes a mass-rescue operation involving an aircraft ditching at sea with 228 persons onboard and a collision with a container vessel. This makes SAREX more than a ceremonial drill: it tests coordination among maritime, aviation, defence and civil agencies during a complex emergency.
The exercise is also linked with India’s broader maritime-security approach, including the ideas of SAGAR and MAHASAGAR. For examinations, remember the full form of SAREX as a search-and-rescue exercise and associate national maritime search-and-rescue coordination with the Indian Coast Guard.
4. India’s satellite-communication regulatory framework highlighted
The Ministry of Communications has highlighted that India’s regulatory framework for satellite communication services is fair and non-discriminatory. This is relevant because satellite connectivity is increasingly linked with broadband access, remote-area communication, disaster resilience and the wider digital economy.
For exam preparation, the important distinction is between satellite communication as a technology and the regulatory framework governing its services. Candidates should connect the topic with India’s telecommunications policy, spectrum management and the role of the Department of Telecommunications and sector regulators.
5. ISRO-IIG space-science outreach reaches Andaman & Nicobar students
ISRO and the Indian Institute of Geomagnetism (IIG) jointly conducted a two-day space-science outreach programme in Srivijayapuram (Port Blair) on 6–7 October 2026. The event brought together more than 200 participants, including 180 undergraduate and postgraduate students and about 20 faculty members.
The programme covered solar physics, geomagnetism, space weather, comparative planetology, exoplanets and astrobiology. The programme was conducted under an ISRO-IIG MoU signed in September 2024, with the objective of combining institutional resources to take space-science awareness to different parts of India.
The static-GK connection is valuable: IIG is associated with the study of geomagnetism and related Earth-space interactions, while ISRO is India’s national space agency. Space-weather questions can connect the Sun, Earth’s magnetic field and the interplanetary magnetic field.
Data figure: 8 October exam snapshot
| Topic | Number to remember | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| RBI repo rate | 5.50% | Banking & economy |
| Repo-rate increase | 25 bps | Monetary policy |
| SAREX-2026 | 30 countries / 32 observers | Defence & maritime security |
| SAREX mass-rescue scenario | 228 persons | Search-and-rescue preparedness |
| ISRO-IIG outreach | 200+ participants | Science & technology |
| ISRO-IIG student participation | 180 students | Space-science outreach |
Exam relevance
- Banking: RBI MPC, repo rate, SDF, MSF, Bank Rate and monetary-policy stance.
- SSC/UPSC: Air Force Day, IAF establishment year, SAREX, SAGAR/MAHASAGAR and space-weather concepts.
- Defence exams: Indian Coast Guard’s maritime search-and-rescue role and inter-agency exercises.
- Science exams: ISRO, IIG, geomagnetism, solar physics and space weather.
6. India Mobile Congress 2026: “Scale Without Boundaries”
The 10th India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026 is being held from 7 to 10 October 2026 at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi. The event is organised by the Department of Telecommunications and the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), with “Scale Without Boundaries” as its theme.
The event matters because India’s telecom story is moving from basic connectivity towards 5G, 6G, artificial intelligence, satellite communication, quantum communication, cybersecurity and indigenous technology. Government data highlighted around the event put India’s internet subscriber base at over 1 billion, with broadband subscribers at about 1.01 billion and 5G coverage reaching 99.9% of districts.
7. Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit to become 29th Chief of the Air Staff
The Government of India has appointed Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, PVSM, AVSM, VM, VSM, presently Vice Chief of the Air Staff, as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff. He is scheduled to assume office in the rank of Air Chief Marshal on 31 October 2026, when Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh retires.
Air Marshal Dixit was commissioned into the fighter stream on 6 December 1986. His earlier appointments include Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee and Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Central Air Command. For defence examinations, remember the sequence: Ashutosh Dixit → 29th CAS → 31 October 2026.
8. Sagarmanthan 2026: maritime order and ocean governance
The third edition of Sagarmanthan: The Great Oceans Dialogue opened in New Delhi on 7 October 2026. The dialogue is organised by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways in partnership with the Observer Research Foundation. Its strategic focus includes a free, open, secure and rules-based maritime order.
The topic is relevant for competitive examinations because maritime affairs now extend beyond ports to shipping corridors, supply chains, energy security, shipbuilding, maritime law and blue-economy opportunities. Candidates should connect Sagarmanthan with India’s wider maritime-policy framework, including Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.
Additional exam facts from today
| Topic | Fact |
|---|---|
| India Mobile Congress | 10th edition; 7–10 October 2026 |
| IMC theme | Scale Without Boundaries |
| IAF establishment | 8 October 1932 |
| Incoming CAS | Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit |
| CAS number | 29th |
| Sagarmanthan | 3rd edition in 2026 |
Expanded MCQ Areas
- Theme and edition number of India Mobile Congress 2026.
- Organisers and venue of IMC 2026.
- Name and number of the incoming Chief of the Air Staff.
- Date on which Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit assumes office.
- Meaning and purpose of Sagarmanthan.
- Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.
Static GK connection
Today’s developments connect several static areas: 1932 for the IAF’s establishment; 8 October for Air Force Day; the RBI’s statutory monetary-policy framework; the Indian Coast Guard’s maritime safety role; and the scientific relationship between solar activity and Earth’s geomagnetic environment.
Possible MCQ areas
- Which institution decides the policy repo rate?
- What is the RBI repo rate after the October 2026 MPC decision?
- On which date is Indian Air Force Day observed?
- How many countries sent observers to SAREX-2026?
- Which two institutions conducted the Port Blair space-science outreach programme?
- What scientific phenomenon links the geomagnetic field with the interplanetary magnetic field?
Official sources
- Reserve Bank of India — October 2026 Monetary Policy
- Press Information Bureau — Government of India
- ISRO-IIG Port Blair Outreach
How to revise today’s current affairs efficiently
Do not memorise the five stories as isolated facts. Group them into three examination themes. First, economy and banking: RBI, MPC, repo rate, inflation and growth. Second, defence and security: Air Force Day and maritime search-and-rescue. Third, science and technology: satellite communication, geomagnetism and space weather.
A useful revision sheet for today would therefore contain the figures 5.50%, 25 bps, 7.1%, 5.2%, 30 countries, 32 observers, 228 persons and 180 students. Numbers are easier to retain when each is attached to an institution and a reason for appearing in the news.
What deserves repeat revision?
The RBI decision deserves repeat revision because it can generate both factual and conceptual questions. SAREX deserves attention for defence and maritime-awareness exams because the exercise demonstrates multi-agency coordination. The ISRO-IIG programme is more likely to produce a science-static question linking geomagnetism and space weather. Air Force Day is a classic date-and-institution question.
