October 3, 2026 - Current Affairs

India’s mechanism for governing drug prices

In News

The Supreme Court heard petitions on medicine, medical equipment and generic pharmaceutical pricing

Observations of SC

It expressed concern over the sharp disparity between the Price to Retailer (PTR) and consumer price, notably in the case of cancer drugs.

It asked whether the 16% retailer margin under the DPCO, 2013 could not be extended to other essential medicines also.

India and Netherlands Deepening Cooperation

In News

India and the Netherlands held bilateral talks on strengthening the agricultural sector by exploring new areas of cooperation

Historical Linkages

India and the Netherlands established diplomatic relations in 1947.

The year 2022 marked 75 years of establishment of diplomatic relations.

Supreme Court on One Nation, One Election.

In News

The Supreme Court declined the proposed October 6 interaction between the Chief Justice of India, other judges and the Parliamentary Joint Committee examining the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024, on ‘One Nation, One Election’.

One Nation, One Election(Simultaneous Elections)

Simultaneous elections propose aligning the election cycles of the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.

This would allow voters to cast their ballots for both tiers of government on the same day in their constituencies, though voting could still occur in phases across the country.

Trade Concerns Over Forced Labour and Excess Capacity

Context

India has defended its trade policies at the G20 Trade Ministers’ Meeting against U.S. concerns about forced-labour-linked imports and structural excess capacity.

About forced-labour import

A forced-labour import refers to a good imported into a country that has been manufactured, wholly or partly, using forced labour at some stage of its production.

Structural excess capacity refers to a situation where production capacity in a sector persistently exceeds domestic and global demand, potentially resulting in overproduction, falling prices and trade distortions.

Post-Facto Environmental Clearance

Context

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has directed environmental appraisal authorities to resume processing pending post-facto environmental clearance cases following the Supreme Court’s judgement in Vanashakti v. Union of India.

What is Post-Facto Environmental Clearance? 

Environmental clearance is generally required before a project is established, expanded or modernised if it falls within the ambit of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006.

Post-facto clearance refers to a mechanism through which projects that had already commenced operations or undertaken expansion without obtaining prior EC could subsequently seek environmental approval.

News In Short 03-10-2026

In News

Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas launched the GOBARdhan Scheme for development of the Compressed Biogas (CBG) sector.

GOBARdhan Scheme

Galvanising Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan (GOBARdhan) was launched in 2018 as an integral part of Solid and Liquid Waste Management (SWM) under Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen).

It aimed to convert bio-waste - animal waste, kitchen leftovers, crop residue, and market waste- into biogas and bio-slurry, thereby ensuring cleanliness in villages and enhancing rural lives.