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India’s Ramsar site tally reached 103 on 15 October 2026, following the addition of Sukhna Wetland in Chandigarh and Sauj Jheel in Uttar Pradesh. Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav announced the designations. Sukhna Wetland is Site No. 2602 on the Ramsar List, while Sauj Jheel is Site No. 2603.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the National Culture Fund (NCF) and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) signed a Memorandum of Agreement on 13 October 2026. The agreement covers conservation and development works at Hampi in Karnataka, the Taj Mahal in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, and Bekal Fort in Kerala. HAL has granted in-principle approval for financial support of ₹23.60 crore, to be provided over the financial years 2026–27 to 2028–29.

DRDO Tests Quantum Key Distribution Platform

On 14 October 2026, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) configured and tested its Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) platform on the live network of the dynamic test ranges at Proof & Experimental Establishment (PXE), Chandipur, Odisha. The system is intended to secure real-time observations and telemetry from artillery and armoured weapon tests.

The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet approved a proposal on 9 October 2026 to rename Noida International Airport at Jewar as “Narendra Modi International Airport, Noida-Jewar”. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced the decision in Lucknow after a Cabinet meeting. The airport is located at Jewar in Gautam Buddha Nagar district, Uttar Pradesh.

Uttar Pradesh renamed Bhadohi district as Sant Ravidas Nagar Bhadohi on 4 October 2026. The district was carved out of Varanasi district and became the 65th district of Uttar Pradesh on 30 June 1994.

Lieutenant General Akhilesh Kumar assumed charge as the General Officer Commanding of the Indian Army’s 1 Corps on 1 October 2026. The corps is also known as Strike One Corps and is headquartered at Mathura in Uttar Pradesh. He succeeded Lieutenant General V Hariharan in this appointment.

Narendra Bhooshan, an Indian Administrative Service officer of the 1992 batch from the Uttar Pradesh cadre, assumed charge as Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on 1 October 2026. He was appointed to the post on 30 September 2026 and succeeded Tanmay Kumar, an IAS officer of the 1993 Rajasthan cadre, who superannuated on the same date.