Daily Current Affairs for TNPSC Group 1, Group 2, Group 2A and Group 4
Welcome to TNPSCPrepPro Daily Current Affairs – 7 October 2026.
Today’s important developments cover Indian Economy, Science & Technology, Defence, Governance, Healthcare, Infrastructure and Tamil Nadu Current Affairs.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has raised the policy repo rate by 25 basis points, taking it from 5.25% to 5.50%.
This is the first repo-rate increase since February 2023. The decision was taken by the six-member Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) during its October 2026 meeting.
The RBI has also changed its monetary policy stance from “neutral” to “calibrated tightening”.
The rate decision comes against a backdrop of higher inflationary pressures, elevated crude oil prices and wider global economic uncertainties. At the same time, the RBI raised its FY 2026–27 GDP growth projection to 7.1%, according to reports on the policy decision.
The repo rate is the rate at which the RBI lends short-term funds to commercial banks against eligible securities.
A higher repo rate generally makes borrowing more expensive and can help moderate inflationary pressure.
Institution: Reserve Bank of India
Committee: Monetary Policy Committee
New repo rate: 5.50%
Increase: 25 basis points
Previous repo rate: 5.25%
Policy stance: Calibrated tightening
First hike since: February 2023
FY 2026–27 GDP projection: 7.1%
Repo Rate → RBI → Monetary Policy Committee → Inflation & Liquidity
Belgian-born physicist Francis Halzen has been awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physics for his pioneering contribution to the IceCube Neutrino Observatory and the detection of high-energy neutrinos of astrophysical origin.
The IceCube Observatory is located deep beneath the ice at the South Pole.
The experiment uses the Antarctic ice as a gigantic detector. When neutrinos interact with matter, the resulting particles can produce tiny flashes of light that are detected by sensors embedded in the ice.
The work has helped scientists use neutrinos as a new way of studying high-energy phenomena in the universe.
Neutrinos are extremely weakly interacting subatomic particles. They can travel through matter over enormous distances with very little interaction.
Because of this property, neutrinos can provide information about energetic cosmic events that cannot always be studied using ordinary electromagnetic radiation.
Nobel category: Physics
Year: 2026
Laureate: Francis Halzen
Major scientific facility: IceCube Neutrino Observatory
Location: South Pole, Antarctica
Subject: Neutrino astronomy
Key concept: High-energy astrophysical neutrinos
Francis Halzen → IceCube → South Pole → Neutrinos
The Union Cabinet has approved a government commitment of ₹10,000 crore for establishing the SME Growth Fund.
The fund is intended to provide growth-oriented equity capital to promising Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and support the emergence of Indian enterprises capable of scaling into larger businesses.
The initiative was announced as part of the Union Budget 2026–27.
The fund is expected to support enterprises across areas such as:
Manufacturing
Services
Technology
Innovation-driven sectors
Strategic value chains
The government describes the initiative as a way to provide patient equity capital to viable and scalable SMEs.
Fund: SME Growth Fund
Government commitment: ₹10,000 crore
Purpose: Equity support for growth-oriented SMEs
Source: Union Budget 2026–27
Focus: Manufacturing, services, technology and innovation
This topic can be linked with:
MSMEs → Employment → Manufacturing → Investment → Innovation → Economic Growth
The Union Cabinet has approved the establishment of the Integrated Transport & Logistics Authority (ITLA).
The new mechanism is designed to improve coordination among different transport and logistics systems and reduce fragmentation in infrastructure planning.
ITLA will focus on:
Transport research
Long-term planning
Project appraisal
Monitoring
Impact assessment
Multimodal integration
Transport data management
The authority will complement initiatives such as the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan and the National Logistics Policy.
India’s transport system involves several modes, including:
Roadways + Railways + Ports + Inland Waterways + Aviation
Better coordination among these systems can improve logistics efficiency and reduce transportation costs.
Full form: Integrated Transport & Logistics Authority
Abbreviation: ITLA
Approved by: Union Cabinet
Main purpose: Integrated transport and logistics planning
Related initiatives: PM GatiShakti and National Logistics Policy
ITLA → Integrated Transport + Logistics + Multimodal Planning
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched India’s first indigenous Fleet Support Ship (FSS-1), INS Surya, at Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), Visakhapatnam.
During the same event, the keel of the fifth Fleet Support Ship was laid and upgraded shipbuilding infrastructure at HSL was inaugurated.
Fleet Support Ships are important for naval operations because they provide essential logistical support to warships operating at sea.
The launch is considered an important milestone in India’s efforts to strengthen indigenous shipbuilding and maritime self-reliance.
Ship: INS Surya
Type: Fleet Support Ship
First indigenous FSS: Yes
Shipyard: Hindustan Shipyard Limited
Location: Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
Launched by: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh
Fleet Support Ship → Logistics at Sea → Naval Operations → Maritime Self-Reliance
The Government has appointed Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff (CAS).
He will assume the position in the rank of Air Chief Marshal with effect from the afternoon of 31 October 2026.
The present Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, is scheduled to superannuate on the same date.
Before his appointment, Air Marshal Dixit was serving as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff. He has also served as Chief of Integrated Defence Staff and Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Central Air Command.
Appointee: Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit
Position: 29th Chief of the Air Staff
Rank on appointment: Air Chief Marshal
Effective date: 31 October 2026
Present CAS: Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh
Organisation: Indian Air Force
Ashutosh Dixit → 29th Chief of the Air Staff
India’s national telemedicine service eSanjeevani has crossed the landmark of 50 crore teleconsultations.
According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the platform crossed the milestone on 15 September 2026, recording more than 500 million consultations across all States and Union Territories.
eSanjeevani has expanded access to healthcare by enabling citizens to consult healthcare professionals remotely.
The platform currently supports more than 1.42 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandir spokes, 19,473 medical hubs and 901 online OPDs, with more than 2.41 lakh registered healthcare providers.
The system has also incorporated technologies such as AI-powered clinical decision support and integration with ERSS-112.
Service: eSanjeevani
Type: National Telemedicine Service
Milestone: 50 crore teleconsultations
Ministry: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Technology: Digital healthcare and telemedicine
Developer: C-DAC
Important feature: Remote medical consultation
eSanjeevani → Telemedicine → Digital Health → Ministry of Health
A Tamil Nadu-specific infrastructure development is important for today’s TNPSC current affairs.
Traffic restrictions are scheduled on TTK Road and Sriram Nagar North in Chennai from 8 October 2026 to facilitate Chennai Metro Rail tunnel construction.
The traffic regulation is expected to continue for approximately three months.
Alternative routes have been identified for vehicles affected by the construction activity.
This development is relevant to TNPSC because it connects with urban infrastructure, public transportation and Chennai Metro Rail development.
City: Chennai
Project: Chennai Metro Rail
Affected road: TTK Road
Additional area: Sriram Nagar North
Reason: Metro tunnel construction
Traffic regulation begins: 8 October 2026
Expected duration: Three months
| Topic | Key Fact |
|---|---|
| RBI Repo Rate | Increased to 5.50% |
| Repo Rate Increase | 25 basis points |
| RBI Policy Stance | Calibrated tightening |
| Nobel Physics 2026 | Francis Halzen |
| Nobel Physics – Topic | IceCube & high-energy neutrinos |
| SME Growth Fund | ₹10,000 crore |
| ITLA | Integrated Transport & Logistics Authority |
| INS Surya | First indigenous Fleet Support Ship |
| Shipyard | Hindustan Shipyard Limited, Visakhapatnam |
| New Chief of Air Staff | Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit |
| CAS Number | 29th |
| eSanjeevani | Crosses 50 crore teleconsultations |
| Chennai Metro | TTK Road traffic regulation |
| TTK Road Diversion | From 8 October 2026 |
A. 10 basis points
B. 15 basis points
C. 25 basis points
D. 50 basis points
Answer: C. 25 basis points
A. Karl Deisseroth
B. Francis Halzen
C. Peter Hegemann
D. Georg Nagel
Answer: B. Francis Halzen
A. Quantum computing
B. Gravitational waves
C. Neutrino astronomy
D. Gene editing
Answer: C. Neutrino astronomy
A. ₹5,000 crore
B. ₹7,500 crore
C. ₹10,000 crore
D. ₹15,000 crore
Answer: C. ₹10,000 crore
A. Indian Transport and Logistics Agency
B. Integrated Transport & Logistics Authority
C. Indian Trade and Logistics Authority
D. Integrated Trade and Land Authority
Answer: B. Integrated Transport & Logistics Authority
A. Destroyer
B. Submarine
C. Fleet Support Ship
D. Aircraft Carrier
Answer: C. Fleet Support Ship
A. Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh
B. Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit
C. Air Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari
D. Air Marshal R. K. Anand
Answer: B. Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit
A. Digital education
B. Telemedicine
C. Digital payments
D. Agricultural technology
Answer: B. Telemedicine
A. Anna Salai
B. Poonamallee High Road
C. TTK Road
D. GST Road
Answer: C. TTK Road
A. Arctic Ocean
B. South Pole
C. Sahara Desert
D. Himalayas
Answer: B. South Pole
7 October 2026: RBI raised the repo rate to 5.50%, Francis Halzen received the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physics for work linked to IceCube and neutrino astronomy, the Cabinet approved a ₹10,000-crore SME Growth Fund and ITLA, India launched its first indigenous Fleet Support Ship INS Surya, Ashutosh Dixit was appointed the 29th Chief of the Air Staff, and eSanjeevani crossed 50 crore teleconsultations.
★★★★★ RBI Repo Rate & MPC
★★★★★ Nobel Prize in Physics – Francis Halzen
★★★★★ SME Growth Fund
★★★★★ ITLA
★★★★☆ INS Surya
★★★★☆ Chief of Air Staff – Ashutosh Dixit
★★★★☆ eSanjeevani
★★★☆☆ Chennai Metro – TTK Road
Note: The 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry is scheduled for announcement later today, 7 October 2026. The Nobel Foundation lists the announcement for Wednesday, 7 October, at 11:45 CEST or later. This article can be updated once the Chemistry laureate(s) are officially announced.