Current Affairs – 8 October 2026
1. Veteran Actor Nana Patekar Passes Away at 75
Veteran Indian actor Nana Patekar passed away on the morning of October 8, 2026, at the age of 75, following a cardiac arrest at his residence in Dona Paula, Goa. He was declared dead at approximately 5:20 AM after efforts to revive him at Manipal Hospital. His son, Malhar Patekar, confirmed the news of his passing.
The Maharashtra government decided to accord Nana Patekar a state funeral with full state honours, recognising his significant contribution to Marathi theatre and Hindi and Marathi cinema. His last rites were held at his farmhouse in Donje, near Pune.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and other dignitaries paid their final respects to the celebrated actor in Pune.
Born Vishwanath Patekar, Nana Patekar enjoyed a career spanning more than four decades. Known for his powerful performances and distinctive screen presence, he worked extensively in Marathi and Hindi cinema. He was a recipient of three National Film Awards and the Padma Shri, and was remembered for acclaimed performances in films such as Parinda, Krantiveer, Agni Sakshi, Ab Tak Chhappan, Natsamrat and Welcome.
His passing marks the end of an important chapter in Indian cinema, leaving behind a lasting legacy of memorable performances across theatre and film.
2. Nobel Prize in Literature 2026
Canadian poet, essayist and translator Anne Carson has been awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature by the Swedish Academy. The announcement was made on 8 October 2026 in Stockholm.
The Swedish Academy honoured Carson “for her bold and inventive oeuvre that, in playful dialogue with the classical tradition, has created new forms for contemporary literature.” Her work is noted for crossing traditional boundaries between poetry, prose, translation and literary criticism, with strong influences from classical Greek literature.
About Anne Carson
- Name: Anne Carson
- Born: 1950, Toronto, Canada
- Nationality: Canadian
- Profession: Poet, essayist, translator and classicist
- Age: 76
- Major Work: Autobiography of Red (1998)
- Nobel Prize: Nobel Prize in Literature, 2026
Carson has written more than 20 books and is particularly recognised for her innovative approach to literature. Her works frequently draw upon ancient Greek mythology and classical texts, while combining different literary forms.
Significance
Anne Carson becomes the first Canadian recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature since Alice Munro won the award in 2013. She is also the 19th woman among the 123 Literature laureates since the prize was first awarded.
The 2026 Literature Prize carries 12 million Swedish kronor (approximately US$1.2 million).
Previous Winner
The 2025 Nobel Prize in Literature was awarded to Hungarian author László Krasznahorkai for his compelling and visionary body of work.
Exam Point
Q. Who won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature?
Ans. Anne Carson — Canadian poet, essayist and translator.
3. GST Reforms 2026: Major Decisions of the 57th GST Council
The 57th meeting of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council, held on 8 October 2026, approved a major package of process and compliance reforms aimed at making the GST system simpler, faster and more business-friendly.
Unlike the major rate rationalisation undertaken in 2025, no GST rate changes were announced in this meeting.
The reforms are being described as the next phase of GST 2.0, with the focus shifting from tax rates to registration, refunds, input tax credit, returns and enforcement.
Key GST Reforms
1. GST Arrest Powers Removed
The Council approved the removal of the power of arrest for GST officers, marking a significant shift towards a more trust-based enforcement system.
2. Prosecution Threshold Raised
The threshold for prosecution has been increased from ₹1 crore to ₹5 crore, providing greater relief to businesses over lower-value disputes.
3. Faster GST Registration
Low-risk businesses will benefit from a simplified registration process, with eligible applications being approved automatically within three working days.
4. Faster Refunds
The time for acknowledging refund applications has been reduced from 15 days to 10 days. Around 90% of eligible refunds are expected to be processed through system-based risk assessment.
5. Relief for Small Online Sellers
Small businesses selling through e-commerce platforms will receive a simplified GST registration mechanism, allowing them to serve customers across states without establishing a separate place of business in every state.
4. US Suspends Major IT Companies from Green Card Programme
The United States government has suspended several major technology companies from the employment-based Green Card programme, in a major escalation of its crackdown on alleged immigration and visa fraud.
The companies affected include Microsoft, Adobe, Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Wipro, HCL, Cognizant and Capgemini. The companies have been suspended from the PERM labour certification programme, which is used by employers seeking permanent residency for certain foreign workers.
The move was announced on October 8, 2026, with U.S. Vice President JD Vance accusing Microsoft of misusing the H-1B system and alleging that the company had laid off American workers while obtaining large numbers of H-1B visas and Green Cards.
The administration says the broader action is aimed at preventing fraud and protecting American jobs.
What is PERM?
PERM (Program Electronic Review Management) is a U.S. Department of Labor process used for labour certification in many employment-based permanent-residency cases.
The suspension is particularly significant for Indian IT professionals, as several major Indian technology companies are among the affected firms.
Exam Point
Q. Which programme has been suspended for several major technology companies in the United States?
