Today Current Affairs 7 October 2026 – Compiled from official public sources. Daily important news useful for preparation of UPSC, SSC, UPSSC, Defence and Police competitive exams.
Appointments
Government appoints Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, as Chief of the Air Staff (CAS)
The Government has appointed Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, PVSM, AVSM, VM, VSM, presently serving as Vice Chief of the Air Staff as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff, in the rank of Air Chief Marshal, with effect from the afternoon of October 31, 2026.
- The present Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh superannuates from office on October 31, 2026.
- Born on December 09, 1966, Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit was commissioned into the fighter stream of Indian Air Force on December 06, 1986.
- He has more than 3500 hours of extensive flying experience on various aircraft including, to name a few, Mirage-2000, variants of MiG, Kiran, Jaguar, IL-78, Hawk and Tejas.
Awards and Honors
Belgian-born scientist Francis Halzen wins Nobel Prize in Physics for neutrino research
Belgian-born scientist Francis Halzen has won the Nobel Prize in Physics for his contributions to the IceCube Neutrino Observatory and the discovery of high-energy neutrinos of astrophysical origin on 6 October 2026.
- The 82-year-old Halzen led an international team that developed IceCube, a neutrino detector at the South Pole that has opened a new way of studying the universe.
Economy
World Bank raises India’s GDP growth projection to 7.1 from 6.6 % for this fiscal
The World Bank has raised its forecast for India’s GDP growth in the current financial year to 7.1 per cent, up from 6.6 per cent projected in April on 6 October 2026.
Environment
Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve set to become third home for cheetahs in Madhya Pradesh
After Kuno National Park and Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, cheetahs will get their third habitat in Madhya Pradesh at Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve in Sagar district of Bundelkhand region on Wednesday, marking the expansion of the cheetah conservation project on 6 October 2026.
- Chief Minister Mohan Yadav will release two big cats- a male named Tholo and female CCB-3, brought from Kuno National Park (KNP)- into Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve (VDTR), an official said.
- “On the concluding day of Wildlife Conservation Week, a historic chapter in wildlife conservation is set to be added to Sagar and Bundelkhand with the chief minister releasing two cheetahs into the Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve on October 7, making it the third habitat for cheetahs in MP,” he said.
- The VDTR, also known as the Nauradehi Tiger Reserve, is Madhya Pradesh’s largest tiger habitat, spanning about 2,339 square kilometres across Sagar, Damoh, and Narsinghpur districts.
Polity
Cabinet congratulates PM Modi on 25 years of unbroken leadership
The Union Cabinet on Tuesday passed a resolution congratulating Prime Minister Narendra Modi on completing 25 years of continuous leadership as head of government, highlighting his record in development, welfare, economic reform, national security and diplomacy on 6 October 2026.
Science and Technology
DRDO conducts maiden live jump of indigenous Advanced High-Altitude Parachute in Ladakh
The jump was executed from an altitude of 16,000 feet above mean sea level (AMSL), with the parachute deployed at 15,500 feet on 6 October 2026.
- The landing was carried out at Nyoma (Mudh DZ), located at an altitude of 13,700 feet, the Ministry of Defence said in a press release on Tuesday.
- The successful jump demonstrated the efficacy and tactical employability of the AHAP system in extremely high-altitude conditions, the release said.
- The parachute offers multiple deployment modes and an operational altitude range of up to 18,000 feet, with a rate of descent suited to the tactical requirements of the Indian Defence Forces in high-altitude terrain.
DRDO conducts successful flight trial of indigenously developed High-Altitude Platform
The flight performance was monitored in real time at the Ground Control Station, where video and vehicle-parameter data were received throughout the trial, a Ministry of Defence press release said on 6 October 2026.
- The trial was conducted in coordination with the Indian Air Force, CEMILAC, DGCA, Airports Authority of India and other civil authorities, the release said.
- Kaur, 37, captained India in five tests, 51 one-day internatio.
- Skipper Shreyas Iyer produced a historic unbeaten 102 off 43 balls, and Naman Dhir made an impressive impact on debut as India thrashed West Indies by eight wickets in the first T20I at the BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Tuesday.
Sports
Cricket: Mandhana named new India captain as Kaur steps down
Women’s World Cup India named top-order batter Smriti Mandhana as their new captain after Women’s World Cup-winning skipper Harmanpreet Kaur announced her decision to step down from the role on Tuesday on 6 October 2026.
- Kaur, 37, captained India in five tests, 51 one-day internationals and 155 Twenty20 internationals, leading the side to their first-ever 50-over World Cup triumph on home soil last year.
- Under Kaur, India also won four T20 Asia Cup titles and two Asian Games gold medals, most recently this month at the Aichi-Nagoya Games.
- Mandhana, who was Kaur’s vice-captain, has previously captained India in 18 T20Is and four ODIs.
India among seven countries vying for 2036 Olympics, IOC says
Seven countries, including India, Germany and Qatar, are in the running to stage the 2036 Summer Olympics, the International Olympic Committee said on Tuesday. Preferred hosts will be named in 2028 and a final decision expected in mid-2029, the IOC said in a statement.