On 8 October 2026, India hosted the third Sagarmanthan Dialogue on maritime order and advanced several domestic schemes including PMGSY and Jal Jeevan Mission. The country also launched defence initiatives such as the first Fleet Support Ship and a multinational search‑and‑rescue exercise, while engaging in international talks on finance, climate and agriculture.
International#1
Third Sagarmanthan Dialogue held in New Delhi
The third edition of Sagarmanthan: The Great Oceans Dialogue was organised by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi on 8 October 2026. Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged a free, open, secure and rules-based maritime order.
📌 Static GK link: The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways oversees India's major ports and inland water transport.
Source: PIB · Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways ↗Schemes & Policy#2
PMGSY Chintan Shivir outlines roadmap for rural connectivity
The two‑day Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana Chintan Shivir took place on 5–6 October 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, under the Ministry of Rural Development. It reviewed PMGSY‑IV, which has an outlay of ₹70,125 crore to build 62,500 km of all‑weather roads for 25,000 unconnected habitations.
📌 Static GK link: PMGSY is a centrally sponsored scheme launched in 2000 to provide rural road connectivity.
Source: PIB · Ministry of Rural Development ↗Schemes & Policy#3
Regional review meeting held for Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0
The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, organised a regional review meeting of States and UTs under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 at IIM Bangalore on 8 October 2026. The meeting assessed progress on source sustainability, water quality and digital governance.
📌 Static GK link: Jal Jeevan Mission aims to provide functional household tap connections to every rural home by 2024.
Source: PIB · Ministry of Jal Shakti ↗Schemes & Policy#4
National launch of JOSH Teams for TB elimination
Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda led the national launch of JOSH (Joint Squad for Health) Teams on 8 October 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. In the first phase, the teams will be deployed in 55 districts across 11 States to strengthen youth‑led community mobilisation against tuberculosis.
📌 Static GK link: JOSH Teams are a joint initiative of the Health, Youth Affairs and Sports, and Defence ministries.
Source: PIB · Ministry of Health and Family Welfare ↗International#5
Fourth India‑UK Financial Markets Dialogue concludes in London
The fourth UK‑India Financial Markets Dialogue was held on 29 September 2026 in London, led by senior officials from the Ministry of Finance and HM Treasury. Participants included regulators such as SEBI, RBI, IFSCA, PFRDA, IRDAI, the Bank of England and the FCA.
📌 Static GK link: The India‑UK Financial Markets Dialogue is an annual forum for regulatory cooperation between the two countries.
Source: PIB · Ministry of Finance ↗International#6
India urges focus on closing gaps at Pre‑COP31 meeting
At the UNFCCC Pre‑COP31 meeting in Fiji on 8 October 2026, Union Minister for Environment Bhupender Yadav stressed the need to close gaps in understanding, fulfil existing climate commitments and accelerate implementation of the Paris Agreement.
📌 Static GK link: COP31 is the 31st Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC, scheduled to be held in 2026.
Source: PIB · Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change ↗Defence#7
First Fleet Support Ship launched at Visakhapatnam
FSS‑1, the first of the Fleet Support Ships, was launched on 6 October 2026 at Hindustan Shipyard Limited, Visakhapatnam. The ceremony, attended by Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh, also marked the keel laying of FSS‑5 and the inauguration of an augmented slipway.
📌 Static GK link: Fleet Support Ships are being built by Hindustan Shipyard Limited with over 80 percent indigenous content.
Source: PIB · Ministry of Defence ↗Defence#8
Multinational SAREX‑2026 inaugurated off Paradip
Raksha Rajya Mantri Sanjay Seth inaugurated the Multinational Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX‑2026) on 7 October 2026. The exercise is set to be conducted off Paradip on 8 October 2026 with participation of 32 delegates from 30 foreign friendly nations.
📌 Static GK link: SAREX series are conducted annually to enhance maritime search and rescue coordination.
Source: PIB · Ministry of Defence ↗International#9
India and Ghana sign MoU for agricultural cooperation
India and Ghana signed a five‑year Memorandum of Understanding on agricultural research, education and technology transfer. The MoU was signed between the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and Ghana's Crops Research Institute, with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Ghana's Foreign Minister present.
📌 Static GK link: The MoU aims to strengthen South‑South and India‑Africa collaboration in agricultural research.
Source: PIB · Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare ↗International#10
Commerce Secretary urges better use of India‑EFTA TEPA
Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal called for greater utilisation of the India‑European Free Trade Association Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement at an outreach event in New Delhi on 8 October 2026. He noted that EFTA states have opened their markets to India under the agreement which entered into force on 1 October 2025.
📌 Static GK link: TEPA covers 92.2 percent of EFTA's tariff lines and entered into force on 1 October 2025.
Source: PIB · Ministry of Commerce & Industry ↗Keep the streak going 🔥
Current affairs stick when you revise them daily. Try today's GK question too.
Today's GK question →Written by PadhoDost in exam format from the day's reported news. Facts are summarised for exam preparation, not reproduced from the original articles — follow the source links for full reports.