PM Modi Pays Tribute to Shyamji Krishna Varma on His Birth Anniversary

Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to revolutionary freedom fighter Shyamji Krishna Varma on his birth anniversary on 4 October 2026, recalling his contribution to India’s struggle against British rule. 

About Shyamji Krishna Varma

• Born on 4 October 1857 at Mandvi, Kutch, Gujarat, he was a Sanskrit scholar, lawyer and nationalist.

• Influenced by Swami Dayanand Saraswati, he became the first President of the Bombay Arya Samaj.

Contribution to India’s Freedom Struggle

• Indian Home Rule Society (1905): Founded in London to promote Indian self-rule and oppose British colonial rule.

• India House (1905): Established in London to support Indian students; it developed into an important centre of revolutionary nationalism, associated with Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and other revolutionaries.

• The Indian Sociologist (1905): Launched a monthly journal that disseminated nationalist ideas and criticised British rule. 

Legacy

• Varma moved to Paris in 1907 and later spent his final years in Geneva, Switzerland, where he died on 30 March 1930.

• His ashes were brought back to India in 2003. Kranti Teerth, a memorial dedicated to him near Mandvi, Gujarat, was inaugurated in 2010.

153rd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)

Context: Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Shri Harivansh, is leading the Indian Parliamentary Delegation to the 153rd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), being held in Arusha, Tanzania, from 5–9 October 2026. 

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• Theme: “Enhancing good governance and empowering communities through inclusivity, trust and opportunities for all.”

• Key agenda: The Assembly will discuss inclusive social development, including parliamentary strategies to promote the rights and empowerment of persons with disabilities. The Governing Council will elect a new IPU President, and members will consider a proposed emergency item.

About the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)

• Established in 1889: Founded by parliamentarians William Randal Cremer (United Kingdom) and Frédéric Passy (France), the IPU promotes parliamentary diplomacy, dialogue and peaceful resolution of international disputes.

• Structure and governance:

• Assembly: The IPU’s principal global forum, bringing together parliamentarians to deliberate on international issues.
• Governing Council: The principal administrative and policy-making body.
• Executive Committee: Oversees administration and makes recommendations to the Governing Council.
• President and Secretary General: The President provides political leadership, while the Secretary General heads the organisation’s administration.

• Headquarters and membership: Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the IPU currently has 183 Member Parliaments and 15 Associate Members. 

• Naoero (Nauru) is expected to become its 184th Member Parliament during the 153rd Assembly.

• India’s membership: India joined the IPU in 1949 and participated in its conference at Stockholm that year.

• Indian Parliamentary Group (IPG): An autonomous body formed in 1949 following a motion adopted by the Constituent Assembly (Legislative) in 1948. 

• The Speaker of the Lok Sabha is its ex-officio President, and an Executive Committee manages its affairs. 
• The IPG serves as India’s national group in the IPU and the main Indian branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), facilitating exchanges between Indian and foreign parliamentarians.

NABKISAN Lists India’s First WASH-Focused Social Bond

Context: NABKISAN Finance Limited, a subsidiary of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), listed India’s first Social Bond dedicated exclusively to the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) on 1 October 2026, raising ₹180 crore. 

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• Bond details: The five-year bond was oversubscribed 1.8 times, carries a coupon rate of 8.10% and will mature in September 2031. It has been assigned CRISIL AAA (Stable) and CARE AAA (Stable) ratings.

• Use of proceeds: The ₹180 crore raised will be deployed to expand access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene solutions across rural and underserved communities, contributing to improved health, livelihoods and quality of life. 

Significance

• Innovative development financing: The issuance demonstrates how capital-market instruments can mobilise resources for critical development priorities and make social infrastructure projects more attractive to investors. 

• Rural development: Financing WASH solutions in rural and underserved communities can strengthen health, livelihoods and quality of life, particularly where access to essential services remains inadequate.

• Deepening sustainable finance: The issuance contributes to the development of India's sustainable-finance ecosystem by connecting capital-market funding with clearly defined social outcomes.

Centres of Excellence (CoEs) for Five Classical Languages

Context: The Ministry of Education has approved five Centres of Excellence (CoEs) to strengthen the study, research, preservation and promotion of five recently recognised Classical Languages—Assamese, Bengali, Pali, Marathi and Prakrit. 

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• The five Centres of Excellence will be established at Tezpur University (Assamese), Visva-Bharati University (Bengali), Central University of Odisha (Pali), Central University of Gujarat (Prakrit), and Deccan College Postgraduate and Research Institute, Pune (Marathi).

• The centres will focus on academic research, digitisation, preservation and dissemination of the linguistic and literary heritage of these languages, helping transmit their knowledge traditions to future generations.

About Classical Languages

• The Government of India created the Classical Language category in 2004 to recognise languages with a long history, rich ancient literature and significant cultural and intellectual contributions. 

• The criteria have subsequently been revised, including in 2005 and 2024, based on recommendations of Linguistic Experts Committees under the Sahitya Akademi.

• In October 2024, Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese and Bengali were granted Classical Language status, taking the total number of Classical Languages in India to 11. 

• The other six are Tamil, Sanskrit, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam and Odia.

• The revised 2024 criteria include:

• High antiquity of early texts or recorded history of around 1,500–2,000 years.
• A body of ancient literature and texts regarded as heritage by generations.
• Knowledge texts, particularly prose, along with poetry and epigraphical or inscriptional evidence.
• The classical language and literature may be distinct from its present form or show discontinuity with later forms.

Why Classical Language Status Matters

• Preservation of Heritage: Helps preserve ancient texts, manuscripts, inscriptions, literary traditions and knowledge systems for future generations.

• Research and Scholarship: Promotes systematic linguistic, literary, historical and cultural research through dedicated academic institutions.

• Digitisation and Accessibility: Supports the digitisation and documentation of manuscripts and other linguistic resources, making them accessible to researchers and wider audiences.

• Transmission of Knowledge: Facilitates the study and dissemination of India’s ancient intellectual, philosophical and cultural traditions, connecting them with contemporary scholars.

Extension of RoDTEP Scheme up to December 2026

Context: The Department of Commerce extended the Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) Scheme up to 31 December 2026.

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• The scheme was earlier scheduled to expire on 30 September 2026, making this a three-month extension. 

• The extension covers exports by Domestic Tariff Area (DTA) units, Advance Authorisation (AA) holders, Special Economic Zone (SEZ) units and Export Oriented Units (EOUs). 

• The existing RoDTEP rates and value caps under Appendix 4R and Appendix 4RE, applicable on 30 September 2026, will continue unchanged. 

• Other terms and conditions governing the scheme will also remain unchanged during the extended period. 

About the Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP)

• Launched: 1 January 2021. 

• Objective: To remit un-rebated Central, State and local duties, taxes and levies embedded in exported products, including prior-stage cumulative indirect taxes. 

• It addresses taxes and levies that are not refunded or rebated through other mechanisms, ensuring that domestic taxes do not remain embedded in export prices. 

• The benefit is generally provided as a notified percentage of export value, subject to product-specific value caps; for some products, a fixed amount per unit may apply. 

• Current notified rebates can range from 0.3% to 3.9%, depending on the product. 

• Benefits are issued through transferable electronic duty credit scrips (e-scrips) maintained through the ICEGATE platform. 

• These e-scrips can be used for payment of Basic Customs Duty and can also be transferred. 

• The scheme operates within an annual budgetary framework, with rates and benefits subject to periodic review. 

• It seeks to provide a level playing field for Indian exporters in international markets by improving export price competitiveness.

ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME-2026)

Context: The second edition of the ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME-2026) commenced at Subic Bay, Philippines, on 28 September 2026, bringing together India and ASEAN maritime forces.

About the ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise 2026

• AIME-2026 is the second edition of the ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise, conducted under the theme “Anchored in Trust, United at Sea.” 

• First edition: AIME-2023 was held in Singapore in May 2023.

• The exercise is co-hosted by the Indian Navy and the Philippine Navy and involves INS Sahyadri and INS Kulish along with maritime forces from ASEAN Member States. 

• It is conducted in two phases: 

• Harbour Phase: Includes Subject Matter Expert Exchanges, operational synchronisation, sporting and cultural activities, and community engagement. Exchanges cover areas such as Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), maritime domain awareness, logistics, and Women, Peace and Security. 
• Sea Phase: Involves coordinated maritime exercises, including boarding operations, helicopter cross-deck landings and medical evacuation, to enhance operational coordination and interoperability. 

• The exercise supports India’s Act East Policy and the MAHASAGAR vision — Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions. 

Significance

• Strengthens maritime cooperation: Enhances mutual understanding and practical cooperation between India and ASEAN maritime forces. 

• Improves interoperability: Joint training and coordinated activities strengthen the ability of participating forces to operate together effectively. 

• Promotes maritime security: Cooperation in areas such as maritime domain awareness and coordinated sea operations contributes to a secure maritime environment. 

• Advances regional partnerships: Reinforces India’s strategic engagement with ASEAN and its wider Indo-Pacific maritime outreach.