Daily Current Affairs 15 October 2026

• Union Cabinet approved continuation of the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) for five years, from 2026–27 to 2030–31.
• The approved programme has a total outlay of ₹53,428 crore for the five-year period.
• NSAP has been renamed Pradhan Mantri Samajik Sahayata Yojana.
• The Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme is renamed Pradhan Mantri Vridhavastha Pension Yojana.
• The Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme is renamed Pradhan Mantri Vidhawa Pension Yojana.
• The disability pension scheme becomes Pradhan Mantri Divyangjan Pension Yojana; the National Family Benefit Scheme becomes Pradhan Mantri Parivar Labh Yojana.
• Under the disability pension scheme, assistance is ₹375 for beneficiaries up to 79 years and ₹625 for those aged 80 years and above.
• The benchmark disability threshold for the pension changes from 80% to 40%, and the minimum age criterion is removed—the pension eligibility can begin from birth.
• Old-age and widow pensions and the family benefit scheme continue in their existing form; revised disability-pension guidelines are to be implemented within three months.
• The approval is expected to benefit 3.2 crore people across all 36 States and Union Territories.

Renamed components

Disability pension changes

• Monthly assistance: ₹375 up to age 79; ₹625 from age 80.
• Benchmark disability: 40%, reduced from the existing 80% threshold.
• Minimum age: eligibility can begin from birth.

Source: News On AIR report

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the strategic restructuring of IDBI Bank.
• Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman described the approval as a milestone in India’s reform trajectory.
• The restructuring is intended to enable the bank’s next phase of growth through an infusion of foreign direct investment (FDI).
• The Government plans to retain a minority stake in IDBI Bank as part of the restructuring.
• The stated objectives include strengthening the banking ecosystem and helping banking services reach global benchmarks.
• The announcement was made by the Finance Minister in a social media post following the CCEA approval.
• The report describes the move as part of broader financial-sector reform and a future-ready banking sector.
• The source does not specify the size of the stake, the proposed investor, or the amount of FDI.

Key details

Exam note

• FDI stands for Foreign Direct Investment.
• The release gives no transaction value or final shareholding percentage.

Source: News On AIR report

• The Central Government notified amendments to the India–Mauritius Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA).
• The amendment introduces the Principal Purpose Test (PPT) to curb treaty misuse for tax avoidance and evasion.
• Treaty benefits may be denied when obtaining those benefits is found to be one of the principal purposes of a transaction or arrangement.
• The measure aims to prevent unintended tax advantages while retaining the treaty’s purpose of eliminating double taxation.
• India and Mauritius signed the amending protocol in March 2024.
• The protocol was signed in Port Louis, the capital of Mauritius.
• It came into force on the 10th of the preceding month, after both countries completed the required legal formalities.
• The amendment also seeks to strengthen safeguards while facilitating bilateral trade and investment.

Treaty amendment at a glance

Source: News On AIR report

• Advanced chemicals, petrochemicals and material technologies were added as an eligible technology area under the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme.
• The inclusion is effective from 8 October 2026.
• The decision followed a proposal from the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals (DCPC) under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.
• The Department of Science and Technology (DST) made the decision to add the sector to the scheme.
• The expansion is intended to strengthen research, development and innovation in the chemicals and petrochemicals sector.
• It is expected to encourage home-grown technologies for advanced industrial applications and manufacturing.
• The RDI Scheme was launched in November 2025 with a corpus of ₹1 lakh crore to encourage private-sector investment in research and innovation.
• Its aims include long-term financing and refinancing on favourable terms for transformative projects and faster adoption of advanced technologies.
• The scheme also seeks to improve industrial competitiveness and promote self-reliance in critical and emerging technology areas.

Scheme and sector details

Purpose

• Encourage private-sector investment in research, development and innovation.
• Support indigenous technologies, industrial competitiveness and self-reliance in emerging technology areas.

Source: PIB release

• The National Saras Aajeevika Mela 2026 is being held at Punnami Ghat in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh.
• For the first time, the national-level Saras Mela is being organised outside Delhi-NCR.
• President Droupadi Murmu is scheduled to inaugurate the fair on 15 October 2026.
• The event is organised by the Ministry of Rural Development, with DAY-NRLM and Andhra Pradesh’s SERP as partners.
• Around 1,000 women entrepreneurs and artisans from 34 States and Union Territories are taking part.
• More than 650 stalls showcase traditional handloom, handicrafts, organic products and household goods.
• The fair is designed to promote rural women’s entrepreneurship, livelihoods and local products.
• A Lakhpati Didi Compendium and the Saras Shakti application are scheduled to be launched at the event.
• The programme highlights the national goal of developing 6 crore Lakhpati Didis.
• An India Food Court features more than 200 women chefs from 28 States, preparing regional dishes; themed pavilions and live demonstrations are also planned.

Event details

Purpose and features

• DAY-NRLM expands to Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana–National Rural Livelihoods Mission.
• The fair promotes women-led rural enterprise through product displays, live demonstrations and training related to packaging, branding and e-commerce.
• The India Food Court brings together more than 200 women chefs from 28 States.

Source: PIB release