Current Affairs — 8 October 2026
Daily current affairs digest for 8 October 2026 covering National, Defence, Economy, Sports, and International affairs — curated for UPSC, SSC, IBPS, RRB, and State PSC aspirants.
Defence & National Affairs
- Indian Air Force 93rd Raising Day — 8 October 2026: India celebrated its 93rd Air Force Day. The IAF was established on 8 October 1932. Grand parades and aerial displays highlighted operational readiness. Theme: "Precision and Pervasive Impact." The IAF is the world's 4th largest air force by aircraft strength, operating over 1,850 aircraft.
- PM Modi — 25-Year Governance Milestone: PM Modi continued to mark his 25 years of continuous public service, reaffirming the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision for India's centenary of independence.
- INDIA Bloc Protests Continue in Delhi: Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and INDIA bloc MPs continued protests over electoral roll revision controversies. Multiple opposition leaders were briefly detained by Delhi Police near Jantar Mantar.
Economy & Finance
- RBI Repo Rate Hike Impact on Loans: Following the 25 bps hike to 5.50%, banks started revising retail loan rates upward. Home loans, personal loans, and auto loans will become costlier. EMIs for existing floating-rate borrowers will rise as banks revise their MCLR.
- GST Reforms — Arrest Powers Eased: Key GST enforcement updates included the removal of direct arrest powers for lower-value tax evasion cases, significantly easing compliance burden for small and medium businesses across India.
International Affairs
- US Tightens H-1B & Green Card for Indian IT Firms: Major Indian IT companies — TCS, Infosys, Wipro, HCL, and Cognizant — faced heightened US government scrutiny as Washington tightened H-1B visa processing and effectively suspended Green Card filings for large IT outsourcing firms. This impacts hundreds of thousands of Indian tech professionals in the US.
Sports
- Mohun Bagan Wins IFA Shield — 22nd Title: Mohun Bagan Super Giant defeated arch-rivals East Bengal FC 1–0 to claim their record-extending 22nd IFA Shield title in Kolkata's most celebrated football derby.
- Indian Cricket — Domestic Season Discussion: Discussions around veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar's future in domestic Ranji Trophy and team management structural updates were prominent heading into the new domestic cricket season.
Quick Revision Table — One-Liners
| # | Topic | Key Fact |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | IAF Raising Day | 93rd Raising Day — 8 October 2026 |
| 2 | IAF Founded | 8 October 1932 |
| 3 | IAF Theme 2026 | "Precision and Pervasive Impact" |
| 4 | IAF Rank (World) | 4th largest air force — 1,850+ aircraft |
| 5 | RBI Repo Rate | 5.50% — First hike in ~4 years — Home/Car loans costlier |
| 6 | IFA Shield Winner | Mohun Bagan — 22nd title | Beat East Bengal 1–0 |
| 7 | US Visa Issue | H-1B & Green Card tightened — TCS, Infosys, Wipro, HCL, Cognizant |
| 8 | GST Reform | Direct arrest powers removed for small-value evasion cases |
Exam Tip: IAF Raising Day (8 October 1932) is frequently tested in NDA, CDS, SSC, and UPSC prelims. Remember: IAF is the world's 4th largest air force.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When was the Indian Air Force established?
Ans: The Indian Air Force was established on 8 October 1932. It celebrated its 93rd Raising Day on 8 October 2026.
Q: What was the IAF Day 2026 theme?
Ans: The IAF Day 2026 theme was "Precision and Pervasive Impact."
Q: What is the global rank of Indian Air Force?
Ans: The Indian Air Force is the world's 4th largest air force, operating over 1,850 aircraft.
Q: How did the RBI rate hike affect loans on 8 October 2026?
Ans: Following the 25 bps hike to 5.50%, banks started revising MCLR upward. Home loans, personal loans, and auto loans became costlier for new borrowers. EMIs for floating-rate borrowers rose.
Q: Which Indian IT companies faced US H-1B and Green Card tightening?
Ans: TCS, Infosys, Wipro, HCL, and Cognizant faced heightened US scrutiny on H-1B visas and Green Card filings.