UPSC Current Affairs 13 October 2026

• JETCO stands for the India–UK Joint Economic and Trade Committee.
• It is a bilateral institutional mechanism to review and deepen trade, investment, and economic cooperation between India and the UK.
• It brings together government ministers, officials, and business representatives to identify barriers, promote partnerships, and follow up on trade commitments.
• JETCO has now been repositioned/upgraded to oversee the implementation and delivery of the India–UK CETA.

• Co-chairs: India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and the UK’s Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds.
• It was the first JETCO after CETA became operational on 15 July 2026.
• The meeting reviewed early business use of CETA, bilateral trade and investment trends, and priorities for the coming year.
• The 17th JETCO meeting will be held in the UK in 2027.

• Annual data exchange: India and the UK will share data every year on how businesses use CETA tariff concessions, beginning one year after CETA’s entry into force.
• The data will show how often firms claim preferential tariffs and will include feedback on implementation problems, especially to help MSMEs/SMEs.
• CETA committees and working groups were launched, along with government-to-government contact points for different provisions of the agreement.
• Both sides agreed to deepen cooperation in services, innovation, government procurement, science and technology, and gender-related initiatives.
• India proposed a GIFT City–City of London financial corridor for cooperation in fintech, insurance, cross-border payments, and trade finance.
• UK businesses announced over £1 billion in new commercial deals alongside the meeting.

• The India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) is the free trade agreement under which JETCO will now coordinate implementation.
• CETA was signed on 24 July 2025 after 14 rounds of negotiations that began in May 2021, and entered into force on 15 July 2026.
• Under CETA, about 99% of Indian goods receive duty-free access to the UK market, while about 90% of UK goods enter India duty-free or at reduced tariffs.
• On the first day of CETA’s operation, Indian exporters reportedly dispatched more than 50 consignments to the UK.

• India and the UK reaffirmed their ambition to double bilateral trade by 2030.
• Public estimates place current bilateral trade at around $60 billion, with the target being approximately $120 billion by 2030.
• The countries see India–UK Vision 2035 as a framework for a broader long-term economic partnership.

• Host & Frequency: Hosted by the Indian Air Force (IAF). It is a recurring multilateral platform building on the inaugural edition held in 2024.
• Timeline & Venue: Conducted from 26 September to 12 October 2026 at Air Force Station Jodhpur and adjoining air bases.
• Official Theme: Conducted under the central theme "Power in Partnership".
• Core Aim: To enhance international interoperability, joint mission planning, and mutual operational cooperation in a contemporary battlespace.
• Air Force Day Synergy: The massive defence manoeuvres coincided with the 94th Indian Air Force Day celebrated on 8 October 2026.

• Participating Nations (7 Foreign Air Forces): The main flying contingents came from the USA, France, Germany, Australia, UAE, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.
• Observer Nations: Representatives from 32 countries attended to watch, network, and analyze operations.
• Scale: Involved around 1,500 personnel and roughly 80 combat, transport, and surveillance assets.
• Historic F-35 Debut: The exercise made headlines globally as the U.S. Air Force's F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter jet participated in a tactical combat exercise in India for the very first time.
• Elite Foreign Aircraft: Featured advanced platforms like the U.S. F-35 Lightning II, French Rafale, UAE F-16, and various multi-role tankers/transporters (like the A400M and C-130J).

• The 'Tarang' Formation: The climax of the exercise featured a signature arrowhead formation led by an IAF Su-30 MKI, flying alongside the U.S. F-35, French Rafale, UAE F-16, and the Indian LCA Tejas.
• Domestic Tech Display: India heavily promoted its local aerospace ecosystem under the Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliance) push, showcasing the agility of LCA Tejas (Light Combat Aircraft) and LCH Prachand (Light Combat Helicopter).
• Aerobatic Spectacle: India’s famous Surya Kiran (fixed-wing aircraft) and Sarang (helicopter) display teams performed complex manoeuvres during the open events.

• Comprehensive Exercises: Missions included simulated counter-air operations, advanced air defence, complex reconnaissance, strategic airlift, and mid-air refuelling drills.
• Cultural & Professional Sub-events: To build camaraderie beyond military tactics, the exercise featured professional seminars, industrial tours mapping India's defence ecosystem, the Sekhon Marathon, heritage tours, and joint yoga sessions.

• A 17-member Indian Coast Guard (ICG) team successfully climbed Mount Mukut East (7,045 m) on 7 October 2026—the ICG’s first successful ascent of a peak above 7,000 metres.
• On October 12, 2026, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami formally welcomed and flagged in the team during a ceremony in Dehradun, praising their grit and national pride.

• Location: Situated in the Chamoli district within the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, India. It lies close to the Indo-China border.
• Mountain Range: It is a part of the Kamet Zaskar Range (Western Garhwal Himalayas).
• Rankings: It is the 20th highest peak located entirely within India and ranks as the 96th highest peak in the world.
• Surrounding Peaks: It is located near other major giants such as Mount Kamet (7,756 m) and Abi Gamin (7,355 m).

• 15 September 2026: Expedition began.
• 1 October 2026: First base camp established.
• 7 October 2026: Team reached the 7,045 m summit despite adverse weather.
• 12 October 2026: Flag-in ceremony held in Dehradun

• The Name: "Mukut" translates to "Crown" in Hindi, a name given due to the peak's distinctive crown-like appearance.
• Two Summits: The mountain features two distinct peaks:
  • Main Peak: Stands at an elevation of 7,242 metres (23,760 feet). (Note: The recent ICG expedition successfully scaled the adjacent Mukut East subsidiary summit at 7,045–7,130 metres).
• Climate: Because it sits within the Zaskar range, the area receives a relatively light monsoon compared to other parts of the Himalayas.
• Glaciers: Its western slopes feed the branches of the West Kamet Glacier and the Dakhini Chamrao Glacier.

• First Ascent: The main peak was first conquered in 1951 by a New Zealand expedition team that included Edmund Cotter, Earle Riddiford, and Pasang Dawa Lama, who tackled its steep western ridge. Legendry climber Edmund Hillary was also a part of this broader New Zealand expedition party.
• Base for Expeditions: The nearest town that acts as a base camp hub for climbers planning an ascent is Joshimath. The physical approach typically moves via Ghastoli, north of Badrinath.
• Strict Access: Due to its sensitive location near the international border, it remains less frequented by commercial tourists and requires multiple inner-line permits from bureaucratic authorities to climb.

• Launched: December 2022 by the Ministry of Railways.
• Objective: To modernise railway stations through a long-term master-planning approach, rather than only cosmetic repairs.
• Coverage: Initially aimed at over 1,300 stations; official parliamentary information states that 1,340 stations have been identified for development under the scheme.
• Implementation: Works are taken up in phases, with station-specific master plans and continuous improvements.
• Progress: As of November 2025, works had been completed at 180 stations; later parliamentary data indicates 1,340 stations identified.

• Synergy with Schemes: It integrates with other national flagship initiatives such as One Station One Product (OSOP), Make in India, BharatNet, and industrial/freight corridors.

• Passenger-First Makeover: Focuses on replacing aging structures with clean, aesthetically pleasing, and comfortable waiting zones.
• Enhanced Infrastructure: Upgrades include multi-vehicle covered parking space, wider circulating areas, separate pedestrian pathways, and advanced LED lighting.
• Tech-Driven Navigation: Installation of modern train indication boards, smart passenger information systems, digital clocks, and coach guidance systems.
• Diverse Additions: Provisions for executive lounges, business meeting spaces, free Wi-Fi, landscaped zones, and dedicated "selfie points" based on station requirements.

• Inclusive Design: A major pillar of ABSS is making travel seamless for passengers with disabilities (Divyangjan) and senior citizens.
• Special Facilities: Stations are retrofitted with step-free ramps, tactile guiding tiles for the visually impaired, wide lifts, accessible toilets, and lower-height booking counters.

• Local Identity: Station facades and interiors are intentionally redesigned using local art, architectural heritage, and cultural motifs to reflect regional pride.
• Example: The newly redeveloped Palani station (Dindigul district) includes cultural artwork honouring its status as a major gateway for pilgrims visiting the iconic Lord Murugan temple.

• Massive Network Expansion: The AI model expands the mapping of the CO₂ hydrogenation network from a previously limited 152 reactions to an exhaustive 9,389 elementary chemical reactions.
• Comprehensive Surface Analysis: The framework accurately details 105 distinct chemical species present on the surface of the copper catalyst during the conversion process.
• 40-Fold Increase in Accuracy: Traditional quantum mechanics modelling is too expensive to compute every single step, often missing vital reactions. By filling these gaps, the new AI-driven model is 40 times more accurate in predicting actual experimental outcomes.
• Shift in Product Predictions: Older models incorrectly predicted formic acid as the primary product and underestimated CO₂ conversion rates. The new expanded model correctly identifies methanol and carbon monoxide as the primary major products, aligning perfectly with real-world experiments.
• Discovery of a New Chemical Pathway: The model successfully identified a less conventional, hidden pathway where molecular hydrogen (H₂) transfers hydrogen atoms directly to intermediate molecules without first splitting into individual isolated atoms on the catalyst.

• Advanced Catalyst Design: By providing a clear blueprint of molecular interactions, the framework assists scientists in designing highly efficient catalysts tailored to yield specific high-value fuels like methanol.
• Boost to Carbon Utilization: The technology provides a massive boost to Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) systems by making the conversion of captured greenhouse gases economically viable.
• Broader Applications: Beyond copper catalysts and CO₂ reduction, the framework can be adapted for nitrogen reduction (for green ammonia production) and water splitting (for green hydrogen generation).

• The International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) and the International Mathematical Union (IMU) announced the award recognizing his groundbreaking contributions to pure mathematics. He is the fifth Indian to receive this distinct global honour.

• Recipient: Professor Mahesh Kakde, a faculty member in the Department of Mathematics at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru.
• Core Research Focus: He was awarded for his outstanding research in algebraic number theory and noncommutative Iwasawa theory.
• Key Achievements: His work includes significant breakthroughs on the Gross-Stark and Brumer-Stark conjectures. These mathematical advancements have profound implications for Hilbert’s 12th problem, which is one of the 23 historic, unresolved mathematical problems posed by David Hilbert in 1900.

• Inception: The prize was established in 2004 and first awarded in 2005. It is named in honour of the legendary self-taught Indian mathematical genius, Srinivasa Ramanujan.
• Administering Bodies: It is jointly funded and administered by the ICTP (based in Italy) and the IMU. The Department of Science and Technology (DST) of the Government of India has also historically supported and funded the prize.
• Eligibility Criteria:
  • The researcher must be under 45 years of age as of December 31st of the award year.
  • The researcher must have conducted outstanding mathematical research in a developing country.
  • Open to researchers working in any branch of the mathematical sciences.
• Prize Reward: The award carries a cash prize of $10,000 to $15,000 USD along with an exclusive invitation to deliver a lecture at the ICTP headquarters.

• Status Shift: Jantar Mantar's status as a legally designated agitating zone is completely revoked.
• The New Venues: All future public demonstrations must be hosted at three decentralized venues across the capital:
  1. Ramlila Ground (Central Delhi, approx. 4 km from Jantar Mantar)
  2. Burari Ground (North Delhi, approx. 15 km away)
  3. CBD Ground (Shahdara, East Delhi, approx. 13 km away)
• Pending SOPs: A revised Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is being formulated to establish rules for requesting and managing demonstrations at these alternative grounds.

• High Crowd Volumes: Growing sizes of protest assemblies became difficult to safely accommodate within a narrow street.
• Severe Traffic Gridlock: Daily demonstrations routinely choked key traffic routes in the heart of Delhi, severely impacting ordinary commuters.
• Lack of Civil Amenities: The previous venue lacked proper public washrooms, clean drinking water, and medical safety setups for long-term or large-scale gatherings.
• National Security & Infrastructure: Located close to the Parliament and critical governance offices, the high concentration of VIP movement required safeguarding sensitive infrastructure from security challenges.

• Loss of Political Proximity: Activists and opposition political parties argue that shifting protests kilometers away from the seat of power removes direct democratic accountability, making it harder for citizens to be heard by policymakers.
• Freedom of Dissent: Civil liberties groups question whether the relocation undermines the fundamental right to peaceful protest under the guise of managing public order.

• Definition: It is the formation of a blood clot (thrombus) inside one of the coronary arteries, which are the primary blood vessels supplying oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscle.
• Mechanism: When a clot partially or completely blocks the artery, it severely restricts or cuts off blood flow.
• The Heart Attack Link: If the blood and oxygen supply are cut off for too long, the heart tissue begins to die, leading directly to a myocardial infarction (heart attack).

• Atherosclerosis: The primary underlying cause is the long-term buildup of fatty deposits, cholesterol, and other materials (called plaque) on the artery walls.
• Plaque Rupture: Clots usually form when a piece of this plaque suddenly ruptures or cracks.
• Platelet Aggregation: In response to the rupture, blood cells called platelets rush to the scene to heal the injury, rapidly clotting and accidentally blocking the entire blood vessel.
• Other Triggers: Vessel wall injuries, severe systemic inflammation, or intense acute stress can also cause sudden clotting.

• Chest Discomfort: Sudden pressure, squeezing, tightness, or pain in the center or left side of the chest.
• Radiating Pain: Pain that spreads outward to the neck, jaw, shoulders, back, or down the arms (especially the left arm).
• Respiratory Issues: Unexplained shortness of breath and difficulty breathing.
• Systemic Signs: Heavy cold sweating, dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea, or profound sudden fatigue.

• Existing Heart Conditions: Individuals with diagnosed or undetected coronary artery disease (CAD).
• Lifestyle Factors: Chronic smokers, individuals with a sedentary lifestyle, and those consuming high-fat, unhealthy diets.
• Medical Comorbidities: People suffering from high blood pressure (hypertension), elevated LDL cholesterol, obesity, or diabetes.
• Demographics & Genetics: Individuals over the age of 60, or anyone with a prominent family history of early heart disease.

• Diagnostic Tests: Doctors utilize Electrocardiograms (ECG) to check electrical irregularities, blood tests to screen for cardiac troponin (a protein marking heart damage), and a Coronary Angiography (X-ray with contrast dye) to locate the exact site of the clot.
• Immediate Medications: Emergency first-line treatment includes blood thinners and antiplatelet drugs (like aspirin or heparin) to halt clot growth.
• Surgical Interventions:
  • Angioplasty: A balloon catheter is inflated inside the artery to flatten the blockage and instantly restore blood flow.
  • Stenting: A tiny mesh tube (stent) is permanently placed inside the artery to keep it structurally open.

• Conducting Authority: Published by the NSO under Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), covering 14,274 villages, 10,377 urban blocks, 4,92,023 households, and 20,34,371 individuals.
• Definitions & Objectives: Defined "travel" as regular trips of 1 km or more (excluding air travel and short overnight trips). It provides verified baseline data to aid regional infrastructure and transport planning.

• Transport Modes: Motorized two-wheelers dominate worker commutes (42.6% nationally, rising to 52.3% in urban areas). Personal cars and mass rail networks account for minimal shares (3% and 2.1% nationally, respectively) due to connectivity challenges.
• Commute Times: The average commute is 25 minutes, with 83.4% arriving in under 30 minutes.

• Expenses: The national average monthly commuting expenditure is ₹785 per worker, creating a stark rural-urban divide (₹612 for rural vs. ₹1,044 for urban workers). Low-wage workers face severe economic strain, spending over 12% of household income on transit.

• Participation & Modes: High travel participation is seen in the 15–29 age group (79.1% rural, 73.3% urban). Walking leads at 37%, followed by public buses (29.5%) and bicycles (15.8%). Most students (87.6%) reach school in under 30 minutes at an average cost of ₹443.

• Workforce & Transit Divide: More men (61.9%) travel for work than women (41.9%). Women are twice as likely to walk or use public transport (67% vs. 33% for men), with regional variations like high walking rates in Madhya Pradesh and high bus usage in Kerala.

• Purpose & Modes: Roughly 70% of long-distance overnight trips are driven by social, family, and religious obligations. Buses carry 55.8% of these journeys, followed by railways (17.7%) and personal cars (15.1%), with urban households relying more on trains than rural households.

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