Today's UPSC News in 60 Words

Centre defends one-day Delhi mobile internet shutdown as proportionate in SC

Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan has told the Supreme Court that the suspension of cellular internet within a 4 km radius of Raisina Hill, from 10 pm on October 9 to 10 pm on October 10, was a proportionate measure. Filed in a contempt case, the affidavit says Wi-Fi and broadband were unaffected and the shutdown followed a Delhi Police request. He tendered an unconditional apology and sought discharge of the contempt notice.

High-Level Committee on Demographic Changes launches public web portal

Justice (retd) Prakash Prabhakar Nawlekar, who chairs the High-Level Committee on Demographic Changes, launched its web portal, in New Delhi. Constituted by the Home Ministry on May 26, 2026, the committee is studying demographic change, including illegal infiltration. Ministries, States, NGOs and citizens can submit data and inputs on causes and settlement patterns. It will recommend a framework to identify, detain and deport illegal immigrants and strengthen border management and identity systems.

Blackbucks to return to Chhattisgarh’s Gomarda sanctuary after five decades

Chhattisgarh's State Wildlife Board standing committee has approved shifting 50 blackbucks from Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary in Baloda Bazar to Gomarda Wildlife Sanctuary in Sarangarh-Bilaigarh district. The species vanished from Gomarda over five decades ago due to hunting, poaching and habitat loss. Barnawapara's population was revived in 2017-18 with 77 animals from Delhi's National Zoological Park and Bilaspur's Kanan Pendari zoo. Blackbuck is a Schedule I species under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.

PM Modi meets Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand, pushes early CEPA

Canada's Foreign Minister Anita Anand called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 14. They discussed deepening cooperation in trade, science and technology, defence, security, energy, education and people-to-people ties. The Prime Minister stressed turning the positive momentum into concrete outcomes, including early conclusion of negotiations on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Both sides also exchanged views on regional and global developments. He conveyed warm wishes to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

India hosts first BIMSTEC Home Ministers’ meet, Delhi Declaration adopted

India hosted the first BIMSTEC Home Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi on October 13, chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Members approved five initiatives, including a convention against human trafficking, a drug control plan, an MoU on countering money laundering and terror financing, and a Bay of Bengal disaster preparedness plan. The Delhi Declaration targets cross-border terrorism, cybercrime and organised crime. BIMSTEC has seven members around the Bay of Bengal.

Israeli PM Netanyahu says he is not seeking to attack Iran again before Israel election

It is not ⁠convenient for us, it’s no good, he said in an interview on Israel’s Army Radio

India, U.S. ironing out differences on trade deal; nearing ‘landing point’: Jaishankar

India and the U.S. have been in talks since early 2025 on the proposed trade pact to address tariff friction, eliminate non-tariff barriers, and boost bilateral market access.

Spotlighting maternal health: why care after delivery is crucial

Health initiatives and family support rightly focus on newborns, but this often leaves the mother’s medical needs sidelined. Comprehensive follow-up care for mothers, incorporated into visits for the newborn, can go a long way toward maternal recovery

Ukraine accuses U.S. of helping Russia as missiles hit Kyiv

A senior official in Kyiv confirmed that the United States had in recent days threatened to stop providing intelligence about Russian missile launches that Ukraine uses to thwart attacks. Donald Trump denied doing so

Russia hits no energy targets in Ukraine for first time since Trump’s ‘truce’

Russia’s Defence Ministry, ⁠in its daily summary of overnight strikes, made no mention of Ukrainian energy facilities