Daily Bulletin

The Integrated Transport & Logistics Authority (ITLA) has been approved by the Union Cabinet to centralise and coordinate infrastructure planning across transport ministries. The authority, tentatively named the Gati-Shakti Transport and Logistics Planning and Research Authority, will be a non-profit special purpose vehicle under the Cabinet Secretariat. A key feature is the creation of a National Transport Data Repository, which will integrate data from GSTN e-way bills, FASTag, and the Vahan system for data-driven planning and freight-flow analytics.

The Supreme Court on October 5, 2026, refused to stay the Calcutta High Court's proceedings challenging the ₹72,000 crore Great Nicobar Island Project. A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant observed that the 'preservation of culture is a constitutionally protected fundamental right,' referring to the project's potential impact on the Shompen and Nicobarese tribes. The apex court urged the High Court to expeditiously hear the petition, which alleges threats to the region's fragile ecosystem.

The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) has released new norms for implementing the Indian Space Policy 2023. The regulations, which pertain to the launch of Indian payloads on both domestic and foreign vehicles, aim to provide regulatory clarity and facilitate greater participation of non-governmental entities in the space sector.

Union Agriculture Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan surveyed flood-affected areas in Bihar and assured the state of full Central support for Bihar flood relief. The Bihar government has initiated immediate relief by providing a ₹7,000 direct benefit transfer to each of the approximately 50 lakh affected families. An Inter-Ministerial Central Team will be dispatched to conduct a detailed assessment of damages for further assistance.

The Supreme Court has issued a notice to the Centre and the Election Commission of India (ECI) regarding a petition challenging unilateral changes to voter enrolment Form 6. The petition alleges that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar added a new declaration requirement without the consensus of fellow commissioners. The bench, led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, stated it would examine the records and could annul any decision taken without unanimity.

The Union Cabinet on October 6, 2026, approved the establishment of the Integrated Transport and Logistics Authority (ITLA) as an apex body for integrated planning in the sector. ITLA will prepare a comprehensive National Transport Master Plan with a 10-year horizon and will be responsible for the technical appraisal of government infrastructure projects costing ₹500 crore or more. This new authority is designed to complement existing initiatives like the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan to enhance infrastructure efficiency.

The Maharashtra government has officially declared a drought in Maharashtra, affecting 265 of the state's 358 talukas across all 36 districts due to a severe rainfall deficit. The state recorded an 18% deficit, with the Marathwada and Vidarbha regions being the most affected. In response, the government has announced a series of relief measures, including a waiver of land revenue, restructuring of crop loans, concessions on electricity bills, and a waiver of examination fees for students in affected areas.

India's National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) has shown limited success, with only 65 out of 130 covered cities meeting the PM2.5 standard of 40 µg/m³ during 2025-26, according to the Environment Ministry. For PM10 concentrations, only 14 cities met the national standard of 60 µg/m³. Launched in 2019, the NCAP is a key initiative alongside the National Air Quality Index (2015) and the Graded Response Action Plan (2017) to combat severe air pollution.