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October 8th Current Affairs

Home / UPSC / Current affairs / UPSC Current Affairs – October 8th

Table of Contents

RBI Raises Repo Rate to 5.5%

Why in News?

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has increased the policy repo rate by 25 basis points, from 5.25% to 5.50%. This is the first repo-rate hike since February 2023. The six-member Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) unanimously supported the rate increase.

The RBI has also changed its monetary policy stance from “neutral” to “calibrated tightening”, signalling that further rate increases could be considered depending on inflation and growth conditions.

Why did RBI raise the rate?

The major concerns are:

  • Rising inflation: Retail inflation has moved above the RBI’s medium-term target of 4%.
  • Higher crude oil prices: Geopolitical tensions in West Asia have pushed up global crude prices, creating the risk of imported inflation.
  • Weak monsoon and El Niño: These could put pressure on food prices.
  • Strong economic growth: RBI raised its FY27 GDP growth projection from 6.7% to 7.1%, indicating that the economy has sufficient momentum to absorb some monetary tightening.

What is Repo Rate?

Repo rate is the rate at which the RBI lends short-term funds to commercial banks against eligible securities, generally government securities.

Repo rate ↑ → Banks’ borrowing cost ↑ → Lending rates tend to ↑ → Credit demand ↓ → Aggregate demand ↓ → Inflationary pressure ↓

Impact of the Rate Hike

For consumers

  • Home, vehicle and personal loans may become more expensive.
  • EMIs can rise, particularly for loans linked to floating interest rates.
  • Deposit rates may also increase, benefiting savers.

For businesses

  • Higher borrowing costs can discourage private investment.
  • Cost of credit increases for MSMEs and large firms.

For the economy

  • Helps contain demand-driven and broad-based inflation.
  • But excessive tightening can slow consumption, investment and economic growth.

 

What does “Calibrated Tightening” mean?

It indicates a shift towards tighter monetary policy, with the RBI prepared to respond to persistent inflationary pressures.

It does not necessarily mean that another rate hike is automatic; future decisions will depend on inflation, growth, global commodity prices and financial conditions.

Chemistry Nobel Prize 2026

Why in News?

The 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded to Henri B. Kagan of France and Kenso Soai of Japan for their “discovery of nonlinear effects and autocatalysis in asymmetric organic synthesis.” Their work helps explain how chemical reactions can produce predominantly one of two mirror-image forms of a molecule.

This is important for pharmaceutical chemistry, because the two mirror-image forms of a molecule can interact very differently with the human body.

What are Chiral Molecules?

Some molecules exist in two forms that are mirror images of each other but cannot be superimposed.

This property is called chirality.

Think of your left and right hands:

  • Both have the same basic structure.
  • But they are mirror images.
  • A left hand cannot perfectly fit a right-hand glove.

Similarly, two mirror-image molecules are called enantiomers.

Chiral molecule → Two mirror-image forms → Enantiomers

Why is Chirality Important in Biology?

Biological systems are highly sensitive to molecular shape.

For example:

  • Amino acids in proteins predominantly occur in one chiral form.
  • Sugars have a different preferred orientation.
  • Enzymes and receptors can distinguish between different molecular shapes.

Therefore, two enantiomers of the same compound may have different biological effects.

This is particularly important in drug development, where producing the desired molecular form can improve the effectiveness and safety of medicines.

What did Henri Kagan contribute?

Kagan’s work in the 1980s demonstrated non-linear effects in asymmetric synthesis.

In simple terms, he showed that a small difference in the proportion of one molecular form could be amplified during a chemical reaction, rather than remaining proportional to the original mixture.

This provided an important clue to understanding how a small initial imbalance could develop into a strong preference for one molecular form.

What did Kenso Soai discover?

Soai took the idea further through autocatalysis.

Autocatalysis means that a product of a chemical reaction helps catalyse the same reaction, thereby helping to produce more of itself.

Soai discovered a remarkable reaction in which a small initial excess of one enantiomer could be strongly amplified.

This is known as the Soai reaction.

Simple mechanism

Small initial imbalance
↓
One molecular form becomes slightly more abundant
↓
Autocatalysis amplifies the imbalance
↓
Predominance of one enantiomer

Why is this important for the origin of life?

One of the major scientific puzzles is biological homochirality — the fact that life overwhelmingly uses one particular orientation of many chiral molecules.

Scientists have long asked:

How did life come to favour one mirror-image form over the other?

Kagan’s work on non-linear effects and Soai’s work on autocatalysis provided important experimental insights into how a tiny initial asymmetry could potentially be amplified.

Importance for Pharmaceuticals

The research has major relevance to asymmetric synthesis, which enables chemists to selectively produce the desired enantiomer.

This is important because:

Correct molecular orientation → Better interaction with biological target → Potentially better drug efficacy and safety

Thus, the research contributes to modern drug discovery and pharmaceutical manufacturing.

India’s Wildlife: From the Brink to a Comeback

Why in News?

During Wildlife Week (October 2–8), The Hindu highlights several examples of wildlife recovery in India. A significant recent development is the hatching of a Great Indian Bustard (GIB) chick in Kutch, Gujarat, after a decade, demonstrating that sustained conservation efforts can help threatened species recover.

The larger lesson is that wildlife recovery requires long-term funding, habitat protection, scientific monitoring and participation of local communities rather than relying only on protected areas or short-term projects.

Great Indian Bustard – A Conservation Success

The Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) is a Critically Endangered grassland bird.

  • The recent hatching of a chick in Kutch, Gujarat, after a decade is an encouraging development.
  • Its major threats include habitat loss, degradation of grasslands and collisions with power transmission lines.
  • Conservation requires protection of its remaining grassland habitats along with breeding and population-management programmes.

Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats

The Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats (IDWH) scheme supports recovery programmes for 24 identified species and their habitats.

The approach involves:

Species protection
↓
Habitat improvement
↓
Scientific research & monitoring
↓
Community participation
↓
Long-term species recovery

Examples include:

  • Great Indian Bustard – grasslands
  • Sangai – wetlands of Manipur
  • Dugong – coastal seagrass ecosystems
  • Hangul – forests of Kashmir

States play a major role in implementing research, habitat improvement, protection and community-based conservation.

India’s National Red List Roadmap

A major issue highlighted in the article is that India does not yet have comprehensive extinction-risk assessments for all its species.

India launched the National Red List Roadmap at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi in 2025.

Target

To prepare National Red Data Books for plants and animals by 2030.

This is important because better assessment can identify species that are:

  • threatened,
  • data deficient,
  • declining,
  • or in need of targeted recovery programmes.

Important data

Of 7,516 Indian animal species assessed for the IUCN Red List, 1,012 are classified as threatened — including Vulnerable, Endangered and Critically Endangered species.

However, these assessments cover only about 7.2% of India’s documented animal species. Therefore, the actual conservation challenge may be considerably broader than currently documented.

Examples of Wildlife Recovery in India

  1. Snow Leopard

India’s first scientific population assessment estimated around 718 snow leopards in 2024.

In Himachal Pradesh, local communities, including women from Kibber, have participated in camera-trapping and monitoring programmes.

Significance: Combines scientific monitoring + local stewardship.

  1. Asiatic Lion

The Asiatic lion population in Gujarat increased from 674 in 2020 to 891 in 2025.

Conservation has involved:

  • habitat management,
  • scientific monitoring,
  • protection,
  • and community participation.

The lions have also expanded their distribution across parts of Saurashtra.

  1. Vultures

Vultures suffered a dramatic decline because of the veterinary use of diclofenac, which was toxic to vultures feeding on carcasses of treated livestock.

India’s ban on veterinary diclofenac was therefore an important conservation intervention.

In Madhya Pradesh, the vulture count increased from 8,397 in 2019 to 12,981 in 2025.

Conservation breeding centres such as the Jatayu Conservation Breeding Centre at Pinjore support recovery of species including the white-rumped, long-billed and slender-billed vultures.

  1. Nilgiri Tahr

Project Nilgiri Tahr involves:

  • population surveys,
  • radio-collaring,
  • habitat assessment,
  • mapping,
  • scientific monitoring.

The population recorded under the project increased from 1,303 in 2025 to 1,364 in 2026. The species occurs in the Western Ghats, particularly Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

  1. Dugong

Tamil Nadu established India’s first Dugong Conservation Reserve in Palk Bay, covering 448.34 sq km of seagrass habitat.

A 2026 assessment by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) estimated 270 dugongs:

  • 158 – Palk Bay
  • 112 – Gulf of Mannar

Dugong conservation also demonstrates the importance of involving fishing communities because accidental capture in fishing nets can threaten the species.

India’s Biodiversity Significance

India occupies only about 2.4% of the world’s land area, but supports approximately:

  • 8% of global flora
  • 7.5% of global fauna

India is one of the world’s 17 megadiverse countries and contains parts of four of the world’s 36 biodiversity hotspots.

Around 28% of India’s plant species and more than 30% of its animal species are endemic to the country.

What Can India Learn from Global Examples?

The article also refers to successful conservation elsewhere:

Iberian Lynx – Spain & Portugal

Habitat restoration + prey restoration + captive breeding + reintroduction helped its mature population rise from 62 in 2001 to 648 in 2022.

Similarly, the scimitar-horned oryx has been returned to the wild in Chad, while the saiga antelope has recovered in Kazakhstan.

These examples show that species recovery is possible when conservation efforts continue over many years.

Challenges to Wildlife Conservation in India

  1. Habitat fragmentation

Infrastructure, agriculture and urbanisation can divide habitats into smaller isolated patches.

  1. Human-wildlife conflict

As wildlife populations recover and expand their ranges, encounters with local communities may increase.

  1. Lack of long-term funding

Conservation programmes require funding beyond the initial project period.

  1. Data gaps

Only a small proportion of India’s documented animal species have been assessed for extinction risk.

  1. Weak community participation

Local communities bear many of the costs of conservation and therefore need to be genuine partners.

Way Forward

India needs a landscape-level conservation approach rather than focusing only on individual flagship species.

National assessment
→ Identify conservation priorities
→ State-level action plans
→ Habitat restoration + scientific monitoring
→ Community participation
→ Long-term funding
→ Measurable species recovery

The article emphasises that political commitment, scientific capacity and community participation must continue for decades, not merely until an initial recovery target is achieved.

SC flags accessibility gaps — Persons with Disabilities and the Right to Dignity

Why in News?

The Supreme Court has sought a response from the Union government and aviation authorities over systemic accessibility barriers faced by persons with disabilities (PwDs) in air travel. The petition highlights problems ranging from inaccessible websites and booking systems to difficulties at airports, security checks, boarding and in-flight services.

The issue is important for UPSC because it connects Fundamental Rights, disability rights, social justice, inclusive infrastructure and accessibility as a component of dignity and equality.

What are the major accessibility gaps?

  1. Physical accessibility
  • Inadequate ramps, lifts, tactile pathways and accessible facilities can restrict independent movement.
  • Persons using wheelchairs may face difficulties during airport transfers, boarding and disembarkation.
  1. Digital accessibility
  • Airline websites and mobile applications may not be compatible with screen readers used by visually impaired persons.
  • Inaccessible digital booking and payment systems can create a barrier even before a passenger reaches the airport.
  1. Transportation and mobility
  • Assistive devices such as wheelchairs are sometimes damaged, misplaced or inadequately handled.
  • Accessibility must extend beyond buildings to the entire transport chain.
  1. Lack of effective grievance redressal
  • Persons with disabilities may not have dedicated mechanisms to report accessibility-related problems.
  • Generic customer-service systems may fail to address disability-specific concerns.

Constitutional dimension

Accessibility is not merely a welfare measure. The Supreme Court has linked accessibility with equality, dignity, freedom of movement and the right to life.

  • Article 14 → Equality before law and equal protection of laws.
  • Article 15 → Protection against discrimination.
  • Article 19(1)(d) → Freedom of movement throughout India.
  • Article 21 → Right to life and personal liberty, including dignity.
  • Directive Principles → State responsibility towards social justice and welfare.

The Supreme Court has previously recognised accessibility as integral to the effective enjoyment of fundamental rights.

Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016

The Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016 provides the principal statutory framework for disability rights in India.

Key provisions include:

  • Equality and non-discrimination
  • Reasonable accommodation
  • Accessibility
  • Inclusive education
  • Employment opportunities
  • Access to public facilities and services
  • Protection of dignity and personal autonomy

The Act seeks to move India from a charity-based approach to a rights-based approach towards disability.

What is Universal Design?

Universal Design means designing products, buildings, transportation systems and digital services so that they can be used by the widest possible range of people without requiring separate or specialised adaptation.

Examples:

  • Ramps alongside stairs
  • Tactile pathways
  • Audio and visual announcements
  • Screen-reader-compatible websites
  • Accessible toilets
  • Low-floor buses
  • Wheelchair-friendly transport

The Supreme Court has recognised that accessibility includes both physical and intangible/digital barriers.

International dimension

India is a party to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).

Article 9 of the UNCRPD deals specifically with Accessibility, requiring States to take appropriate measures to ensure access to:

  • Physical environment
  • Transportation
  • Information and communication
  • Public facilities and services

Thus, accessibility is part of India’s broader international human-rights commitments.

Supreme Court's broader approach

The Court’s recent disability-rights interventions demonstrate a shift towards substantive equality—meaning that merely treating everyone identically is insufficient when structural barriers prevent some groups from exercising their rights equally.

The Court has also been monitoring implementation of disability legislation through initiatives such as Project Ability Empowerment, including assessments of implementation of the RPwD Act across States and Union Territories.

Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve — Cheetahs introduced in Madhya Pradesh

Why in News?

Two cheetahs, Vyom and Neera, were released into the Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve (VDTR) in Madhya Pradesh on October 7, 2026. They were brought from Kuno National Park, marking the first introduction of cheetahs into VDTR.

The development is significant for Project Cheetah, wildlife conservation, habitat management and species reintroduction.

About Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve

  • Location: Madhya Pradesh
  • It spreads across Sagar, Damoh and Narsinghpur districts.
  • It was notified as a Tiger Reserve in 2023 under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
  • It was earlier associated with the Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary landscape.
  • It is named after Rani Durgavati, the Gond queen of Garha-Katanga.
  • It is India’s 54th and Madhya Pradesh’s 7th tiger reserve.
  • The notified tiger-reserve landscape covers about 2,339 sq km, comprising a core area and buffer area.

Landscape and Biodiversity

The reserve consists largely of dry deciduous forest, grasslands and water bodies. It supports species such as:

  • Bengal tiger
  • Leopard
  • Chital
  • Sambar
  • Gaur
  • Wild dogs and other wildlife
  • Several species of birds and reptiles

The reserve’s location in central India also gives it importance for wildlife connectivity and landscape-level conservation.

Why are cheetahs being introduced here?

The introduction of cheetahs at VDTR is part of India’s broader effort to establish multiple viable cheetah populations rather than concentrating the species at a single site.

The two cheetahs were transferred from Kuno National Park and released into a prepared area in the Muhali range. Five soft-release bomas have been prepared, with monitoring and security arrangements covering around 439 hectares.

What is a soft-release boma?

A boma is a secure enclosure where translocated animals are initially kept so that they can gradually adapt to their new surroundings before being allowed to move freely.

This helps:

  • Monitor the animal’s health.
  • Reduce immediate stress.
  • Allow acclimatisation.
  • Monitor feeding and movement.
  • Assess adaptation to the new habitat.

Project Cheetah

India’s cheetah reintroduction programme aims to establish a viable and self-sustaining population of cheetahs in suitable habitats.

Important points

Cheetah is the world’s fastest land animal.

India’s Asiatic cheetah became extinct in the country in 1952.

Under Project Cheetah, African cheetahs have been translocated to India because the Asiatic cheetah population survives only in Iran.

Kuno National Park became the principal site for the initial reintroduction.

The expansion to VDTR represents an attempt to create additional habitats and reduce dependence on a single population centre.

Why is this important for conservation?

  1. Creating multiple populations

Having populations in more than one protected landscape can reduce the risk associated with disease, natural disasters or other localised threats.

  1. Habitat utilisation

Suitable habitats outside Kuno can provide additional space for population expansion.

  1. Restoration of ecological role

Cheetahs are specialised predators of fast-running prey. Their reintroduction is intended to restore a lost component of India’s grassland and open-forest ecosystems.

  1. Landscape-level conservation

Cheetah conservation cannot be limited to the animal itself. It requires:

  • Adequate prey base
  • Large habitat
  • Water availability
  • Protection from human disturbance
  • Wildlife corridors
  • Community participation

Challenges

The introduction of cheetahs also raises important conservation concerns:

  • Availability of sufficient prey.
  • Competition with existing predators such as tigers and leopards.
  • Human-wildlife conflict.
  • Maintaining adequate habitat.
  • Long-term genetic and demographic viability.
  • Disease and mortality risks.
  • Managing interactions between conservation goals and local communities.

Therefore, successful reintroduction is not simply about releasing animals; it requires long-term ecological monitoring and habitat management.

 

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