13 October 2026 Current Affairs: BIMSTEC Delhi Declaration – Daily GK for UPSC, SSC, Banking & Railway Exams

Key current affairs developments for Tuesday, 13 October 2026 included the first BIMSTEC Home Ministers’ Meeting adopting the Delhi Declaration and five security frameworks, the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan completing five years, and the Ministry of AYUSH releasing standard treatment guidelines for dermatological disorders. The day also marked the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction under the official theme “Resilience Starts at Home.”

9 exam-relevant items for 13 October 2026: 7 from official/primary sources, 2 from reputable secondary or developing reports

Read time: ~12 minutes

Coverage for this date: 11 categories screened, 9 items retained, 5 items screened but not retained after date, source and significance checks. Also screened and left out: Nobel Prize in Economics announcement (dated 12 October); Governors’ reshuffle (dated 12 October).

Source labels: [Official] = primary/official body (PIB, ministry, regulator, court, official federation) — linked where a direct URL was found. [Secondary] = reputable report; primary source not located. A “/Developing” suffix (as in [Official/Developing]) = same-day figures/outcomes may still change.

National & Policy

[Official] Delhi Police Denotifies Jantar Mantar as Designated Protest Site, Names Three Alternatives

Delhi Police informed the Delhi High Court on 13 October that it has denotified Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site following a Supreme Court observation on 9 October and recommendations from a Ministry of Home Affairs committee. Three alternative venues—Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and CBD Ground in East Delhi—have been designated. The change modifies an earlier standing order on protests at the central Delhi site.

Source: Indian Express, 13 October 2026 (secondary reporting of official action; primary circular not captured)

Exam Points:

• Jantar Mantar denotified as designated protest site
• Alternatives: Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground, CBD Ground
• Followed Supreme Court observation of 9 October 2026
• Action based on MHA committee recommendations

[Secondary] PM Modi Addresses Bloomberg New Economy Forum in New Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in New Delhi on 13 October. He stated that India grows “with the world, not at anyone’s cost,” citing 7.8 per cent growth in the April-June quarter, foreign-exchange reserves exceeding USD 700 billion, and reforms in taxation, insolvency and labour laws. The forum runs 13–15 October.

Secondary reporting: PTI via The Print, 13 October 2026; primary speech transcript not located

Exam Points:

• PM addressed Bloomberg New Economy Forum on 13 October
• Cited 7.8% Q1 growth and reserves > USD 700 billion
• Forum held in New Delhi, 13–15 October 2026

Economy & Banking

[Secondary] NPCI Defers UPI MDR Rollout Until After Diwali

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) announced on 13 October that the Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) of 0.4 per cent on select person-to-merchant UPI transactions above ₹2,000 (capped at ₹300) has been deferred until immediately after Diwali. The UPI and Services Steering Committee took the decision keeping the festive season in mind; a new implementation date will be notified separately. It was earlier scheduled for 15 October.

Secondary reporting: CNBC-TV18 / The Economic Times citing NPCI statement, 13 October 2026; primary NPCI release not captured

Exam Points:

• NPCI deferred 0.4% UPI MDR on select P2M transactions > ₹2,000
• Decision by UPI Steering Committee on 13 October
• Earlier date was 15 October; new date to be notified post-Diwali
• Cap remains ₹300 per transaction

[Official] RBI Conducts Overnight VRRR Auction of ₹1.5 Lakh Crore

The Reserve Bank of India conducted an overnight Variable Rate Reverse Repo (VRRR) auction under the Liquidity Adjustment Facility on 13 October for a notified amount of ₹1,50,000 crore. The auction window was 09:30–10:00 AM, with reversal scheduled for 14 October. Results and related money-market operations for the day were published on the RBI website.

Source: RBI press-release listing, 13 October 2026

Exam Points:

• Overnight VRRR auction of ₹1.5 lakh crore on 13 October
• Tenor: 1 day; reversal on 14 October
• Conducted under LAF
• Window: 09:30–10:00 AM

Static Link: RBI established in 1935; headquarters Mumbai; Monetary Policy Committee framework under the RBI Act.

Science & Technology

[Official] Ministry of AYUSH Releases Standard Treatment Guidelines for Skin Disorders

The Ministry of AYUSH released Standard Treatment Guidelines (STGs) on Management of Dermatological Disorders for Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy, with Yoga included, on 13 October. The guidelines cover prevention, diagnosis, treatment, follow-up and rehabilitation for conditions including psoriasis, dermatitis, vitiligo, urticaria and dermatophytosis. They were prepared through the AYUSH Vertical of the Directorate General of Health Services and released on the occasion of the 11th Ayurveda Day.

Source: PIB, 13 October 2026

Exam Points:

• Ayush Ministry issued STGs for dermatological disorders
• Systems: Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Homoeopathy + Yoga
• Covers psoriasis, vitiligo, dermatitis and related conditions
• Released on 11th Ayurveda Day

International Affairs

[Official] BIMSTEC Home Ministers Adopt Delhi Declaration and Five Security Frameworks

Under the chairmanship of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, India hosted the first BIMSTEC Home Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi on 13 October. Member countries adopted the Delhi Declaration and approved five initiatives: the BIMSTEC Convention against Trafficking in Persons; a plan of action on drug control; an MoU on capacity-building to combat money laundering and terrorist financing; a plan of action on illicit financial flows; and a plan of action on natural-disaster preparedness in the Bay of Bengal region. Bangladesh was represented by a senior official rather than its Home Minister.

Source: PIB, 13 October 2026

Exam Points:

• First BIMSTEC Home Ministers’ Meeting held in New Delhi on 13 October
• Adopted Delhi Declaration
• Approved the Convention against Trafficking in Persons and four other frameworks
• Chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah
• BIMSTEC members: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand

Static Link: BIMSTEC established in 1997; focuses on Bay of Bengal regional cooperation; India is a founding member.

Environment & Ecology

[Official] Union Ministers Review Stubble Management; Direct Mission-Mode Action

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav co-chaired a high-level inter-ministerial review of crop-residue (stubble) management at Krishi Bhawan on 13 October. Data for 15 September–12 October showed reductions of 53.3 per cent in Haryana and about 32 per cent in Uttar Pradesh, with some decline in Punjab, but sharp increases in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. States were directed to prepare district- and village-level plans and accelerate alternatives such as bio-CNG and manure.

Source: PIB, 13 October 2026

Exam Points:

• Joint review by Agriculture and Environment Ministers on 13 October
• Haryana stubble-burning incidents down 53.3%; UP ~32%
• Increases reported in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan
• Mission-mode implementation directed for paddy-harvesting season

Government Schemes, Reports & Indices

[Official] PM GatiShakti Completes Five Years; NPG Evaluates Projects Worth ₹20.23 Lakh Crore

The PM GatiShakti National Master Plan, launched on 13 October 2021, completed five years on 13 October 2026. The Network Planning Group evaluated 421 projects worth approximately ₹20.23 lakh crore in 2026. The platform has integrated more than 1,800 data layers covering 58 Central Ministries/Departments and all 36 States/UTs, and has expanded to district-level and social-sector planning. The Integrated Transport and Logistics Authority is being set up to strengthen multimodal appraisal.

Source: PIB, 13 October 2026

Exam Points:

• PM GatiShakti launched on 13 October 2021; completed 5 years on 13 October 2026
• NPG evaluated 421 projects worth ~₹20.23 lakh crore in 2026
• Integrates >1,800 data layers across 58 ministries and 36 States/UTs
• GIS-based whole-of-government planning platform

Static Link: PM GatiShakti was launched by PM Modi on 13 October 2021; guided by six principles including integrated development and multimodal infrastructure.

Important Day / Theme

[Official] International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction – Theme “Resilience Starts at Home”

13 October is observed as the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction. The official 2026 theme, announced by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), is “Resilience Starts at Home.” The theme emphasises household preparedness, risk-informed building standards and early-warning systems that reach every home. The observance began in 1989 following a UN General Assembly call and was fixed on 13 October in 2009.

Source: UN / UNDRR, 13 October 2026

Exam Points:

• Observed every 13 October
• 2026 theme: “Resilience Starts at Home”
• Designated by the UN General Assembly; fixed date since 2009
• Focuses on household-level disaster resilience and early warnings

Don’t Confuse

13 October 2026 Current Affairs: One-Liner Revision

• First BIMSTEC Home Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi adopted the Delhi Declaration and five security frameworks on 13 October.
• PM GatiShakti completed five years; NPG evaluated 421 projects worth ~₹20.23 lakh crore.
• Ministry of AYUSH released Standard Treatment Guidelines for dermatological disorders across four AYUSH systems.
• International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2026 theme: “Resilience Starts at Home.”
• NPCI deferred 0.4% UPI MDR on select P2M transactions > ₹2,000 until after Diwali.
• Delhi Police denotified Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site; named three alternative venues.
• Agriculture and Environment Ministers reviewed stubble management; Haryana incidents down 53.3%.
• RBI conducted an overnight VRRR auction of ₹1.5 lakh crore on 13 October.
• PM Modi addressed the Bloomberg New Economy Forum, citing 7.8% growth and reserves > USD 700 billion.

Source note: use the linked official releases and the editorial cutoff above when revising; developing figures may be updated.

The dates, project values and official themes from the BIMSTEC meeting, GatiShakti milestone and Disaster Risk Reduction observance give clear, checkable anchors for revision.