Today's Current Affairs 8 October 2026: Key Updates

Last Updated: 08 October 2026, 10:28 AM IST | Reviewed by Vijay Sah

Today's Current Affairs 8 October 2026 covers the latest verified national, economy, banking, technology, defence and international updates useful for SSC, Banking, Railway, UPSC, State PSC and other competitive examinations.

Among the important developments are the RBI's policy-rate decision, the Union Cabinet's ₹10,000 crore SME Growth Fund, the India Mobile Congress 2026, the new Integrated Transport & Logistics Authority and important defence-related updates on Air Force Day.

Key points at a glance: RBI repo rate, SME Growth Fund, India Mobile Congress 2026, Integrated Transport & Logistics Authority, AI-enabled filmmaking and Air Force Day are among the important topics for revision.

Quick Highlights

Topic	Key Update
RBI Policy	Repo rate was raised by 25 basis points to 5.50%, according to Reuters' report on the October 7 policy decision.
SME Growth Fund	Union Cabinet approved a ₹10,000 crore commitment for the SME Growth Fund.
ITLA	Cabinet approved the Integrated Transport & Logistics Authority as a specialised mechanism for integrated transport and logistics planning.
India Mobile Congress	The 10th edition of IMC 2026 is being held from October 7 to 10 in New Delhi.
AI Filmmaking	IICT and YouTube unveiled four AI-enabled short films under the Create with AI programme.
Air Force Day	October 8 is being observed as Air Force Day, with the Prime Minister greeting India's Air Warriors.

National Current Affairs

India Mobile Congress 2026 Begins in New Delhi

The 10th edition of the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026 is being held from October 7 to 10 at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was scheduled to inaugurate the event on October 8.

The official theme of IMC 2026 is “Scale Without Boundaries”. The event is organised jointly by the Department of Telecommunications and the Cellular Operators Association of India.

According to the Press Information Bureau, IMC 2026 is focusing on areas including smart mobility, stadium experiences, industrial robotics and transport technology. Participation is expected from more than 100 countries.

Exam Point: Remember the 2026 edition, theme “Scale Without Boundaries” and the venue, Yashobhoomi, New Delhi.

Integrated Transport & Logistics Authority Approved

The Union Cabinet approved the setting up of the Integrated Transport & Logistics Authority (ITLA) on October 6, 2026. It will function as a specialised institutional mechanism covering research, planning, project appraisal, monitoring and impact assessment in transportation and logistics.

The authority is intended to support more coordinated and integrated planning across transport-related ministries and agencies. Its proposed functions also include policy support and data analytics.

Exam Point: ITLA stands for Integrated Transport & Logistics Authority and is related to integrated planning in transportation and logistics.

World Leaders Congratulate PM Modi on 25 Years as Head of Government

World leaders extended greetings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 7, 2026, marking 25 continuous years since he first assumed office as Chief Minister of Gujarat in 2001 and later became Prime Minister in 2014.

The development has been reported by the Press Information Bureau as part of the official communications surrounding the milestone.

Economy and Banking Current Affairs

RBI Raises Repo Rate to 5.50%

The Reserve Bank of India raised the benchmark repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.50% in its October policy decision, according to Reuters. The move was reported as the first increase in the repo rate in nearly four years.

The RBI also changed its policy stance from “neutral” to “calibrated tightening”. The decision is significant for banking and economy examinations because the repo rate is one of the main monetary-policy tools used by the central bank.

A higher repo rate can increase borrowing costs across the financial system, although the actual impact on different loans and deposit products depends on their individual rate structures.

Exam Point: The repo rate is the rate at which the RBI lends short-term funds to eligible banks against eligible securities under the monetary-policy framework.

₹10,000 Crore SME Growth Fund Approved

The Union Cabinet approved a government commitment of ₹10,000 crore towards establishing the SME Growth Fund. The fund is designed to provide equity capital to growth-oriented small and medium enterprises.

The official PIB release says the initiative is intended to support high-potential SMEs across manufacturing, services, technology, innovation-driven sectors and strategic value chains.

The fund was announced as part of the measures associated with Union Budget 2026-27. The initiative is aimed at helping viable enterprises obtain growth capital rather than relying only on conventional borrowing.

Exam Point: SME Growth Fund amount: ₹10,000 crore.

Indian Stock Market Remains Under Pressure

Indian equity markets extended their decline on October 8 amid the recent RBI rate increase and higher crude-oil prices. Reuters reported that the Nifty 50 fell 0.54% to 22,482.1 while the BSE Sensex declined 0.48% to 72,290.77 in the morning market context.

Brent crude was also trading above the $100-per-barrel level amid concerns over Middle East supply disruptions. These developments are relevant for economy and banking examinations because interest rates, crude prices, inflation and currency movements can influence financial markets.

Science and Technology Current Affairs

Four AI-Enabled Films Unveiled Under Create with AI Programme

The Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT) and YouTube unveiled four AI-enabled short films on October 7 under the Create with AI programme.

The programme was announced in November 2025 to support AI-led creative projects and strengthen capabilities in emerging technologies. The first four short films were unveiled at the IICT Theatre in Mumbai and were also released by their filmmakers on YouTube.

The development is relevant to technology-focused current affairs because it shows the growing use of artificial intelligence in creative production and filmmaking.

Exam Point: The Create with AI programme is associated with IICT and YouTube.

Defence Current Affairs

Air Force Day Observed on October 8

Air Force Day is being observed on October 8, 2026. The Press Information Bureau reported that Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted India's Air Warriors on the occasion and saluted their courage and commitment to protecting the country's skies.

For competitive examinations, October 8 should be remembered as the date associated with Air Force Day. The Indian Air Force is India's air arm and is responsible for aerial defence and related air operations.

Exam Point: Air Force Day is observed every year on 8 October.

International and Global Economy

Crude Oil Moves Above $100 Amid Supply Concerns

International crude-oil prices moved higher on October 8 as concerns over supply disruptions in the Middle East continued. Reuters reported that Brent crude rose to above $101 per barrel during the trading session.

Oil prices are closely watched in India because the country imports a substantial share of its crude-oil requirement. Changes in global oil prices can affect transport costs, inflation, the trade balance and pressure on the domestic currency.

Exam Point: Brent crude is one of the major international benchmarks used for crude-oil pricing.

India Raises Concern Over Attacks on Commercial Vessels

India strongly condemned continuing attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea after two more Indian seafarers were injured, according to a report published on October 8.

The government called for an end to attacks targeting sailors and for hostilities to cease. The issue is relevant to international affairs because maritime security can affect shipping routes, trade and the safety of Indian citizens working at sea.

Current Affairs One-Liners

India Mobile Congress 2026 is being held at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi.
The theme of IMC 2026 is “Scale Without Boundaries”.
The Union Cabinet approved ₹10,000 crore for the SME Growth Fund.
ITLA stands for Integrated Transport & Logistics Authority.
The RBI repo rate was raised to 5.50% in the October 2026 policy decision reported by Reuters.
The RBI policy stance was changed to “calibrated tightening”.
IICT and YouTube unveiled four AI-enabled short films under Create with AI.
Air Force Day is observed on October 8.

Current Affairs MCQs

Q1. What is the theme of India Mobile Congress 2026?
A. Digital India First
B. Scale Without Boundaries
C. Connect India 2030
D. Technology for All
Correct Answer: B. Scale Without Boundaries

Q2. Where is the 10th India Mobile Congress being held?
A. Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
B. Pragati Maidan, New Delhi
C. Yashobhoomi, New Delhi
D. HITEX, Hyderabad
Correct Answer: C. Yashobhoomi, New Delhi

Q3. What amount has the Union Cabinet committed towards the SME Growth Fund?
A. ₹5,000 crore
B. ₹7,500 crore
C. ₹10,000 crore
D. ₹15,000 crore
Correct Answer: C. ₹10,000 crore

Q4. What does ITLA stand for?
A. Indian Transport and Logistics Agency
B. Integrated Transport & Logistics Authority
C. International Trade Logistics Authority
D. Indian Transit and Logistics Association
Correct Answer: B. Integrated Transport & Logistics Authority

Q5. To what level was the RBI repo rate raised in the October 2026 policy decision?
A. 5.00%
B. 5.25%
C. 5.50%
D. 5.75%
Correct Answer: C. 5.50%

Q6. Which policy stance did the RBI adopt after the rate decision reported on October 7?
A. Accommodative
B. Neutral
C. Calibrated tightening
D. Easy monetary policy
Correct Answer: C. Calibrated tightening

Q7. Which two organisations unveiled four AI-enabled short films under the Create with AI programme?
A. ISRO and Google
B. IICT and YouTube
C. DRDO and Microsoft
D. MeitY and Meta
Correct Answer: B. IICT and YouTube

Q8. Air Force Day is observed on which date in India?
A. 4 October
B. 7 October
C. 8 October
D. 15 October
Correct Answer: C. 8 October

Quick Revision

Topic	Important Fact
IMC 2026	Theme: Scale Without Boundaries
SME Growth Fund	₹10,000 crore
ITLA	Integrated Transport & Logistics Authority
RBI Repo Rate	5.50% after a 25-basis-point increase
Create with AI	IICT and YouTube programme
Air Force Day	8 October

Final Takeaway

The most useful exam points from 8 October 2026 include the RBI repo rate of 5.50%, the ₹10,000 crore SME Growth Fund, the launch-related developments around IMC 2026 and the approval of ITLA.

For revision, candidates should also remember the IMC 2026 theme, the Create with AI programme partners and October 8 as Air Force Day.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the important current affairs of 8 October 2026?

Key updates include the RBI repo-rate decision, the ₹10,000 crore SME Growth Fund, India Mobile Congress 2026, ITLA, AI-enabled films and Air Force Day.

What is the theme of India Mobile Congress 2026?

The theme of India Mobile Congress 2026 is “Scale Without Boundaries”.

What is the SME Growth Fund amount approved by the Cabinet?

The Union Cabinet approved a commitment of ₹10,000 crore towards establishing the SME Growth Fund.

What is the new RBI repo rate in October 2026?

Reuters reported that the RBI raised the repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.50% in its October 2026 policy decision.

When is Air Force Day observed in India?

Air Force Day is observed every year on October 8.

Sources referred: Press Information Bureau (PIB), Reserve Bank of India policy reporting through Reuters, Reuters, Indian government releases.