Current Affairs for Competitive Exams: 18 October – 24 October 2026, weekly updates
18 October – 24 October 2026
National Current Affairs
1. Financial Inclusion Saturation Campaign
- The Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, launched a nationwide campaign covering 2.70 lakh Gram Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
- The campaign will run until 31 December 2026.
- Banks will organise camps for new enrolments and re-KYC under Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) and Atal Pension Yojana (APY).
- The drive will also promote Kisan Credit Card (KCC) and Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) enrolment ahead of the Rabi season.
2. Khet Bachao Abhiyan – Rabi 2026: Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the campaign at Taraori in Karnal, Haryana. It will run from 22 October to 30 November 2026.
- The campaign promotes soil-test-based fertiliser use, balanced nutrition for crops, crop diversification and better utilisation of fallow land after paddy harvesting.
- It encourages oilseed, pulse and horticulture cultivation, crop-residue management and reduced dependence on excessive chemical fertilisers.
- Agricultural scientists will visit villages, while Kisan Chaupals and field demonstrations will support farmer awareness.
3. Agrivoltaics and PM-KUSUM: The 7th Agrivoltaics World Conference was inaugurated at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, under the theme “Powering the Global South.” It brought together over 1,500 participants from more than 40 countries. Agrivoltaics combines agricultural activity with solar power generation on the same land.
4. Drug-Free India Campaign: At Police Commemoration Day, Home Minister Amit Shah stated the target of making India drug-free by 31 December 2029. The Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, launched on 15 August 2020 in 272 districts, was reported to have reached more than 35 crore people, including 13.94 crore youth and 10.86 crore women, as well as over 32 lakh educational institutions.
5. PM-DAKSH Skill Development Scheme: Between 2020–21 and 2023–24, 1,87,305 people from Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes, Economically Weaker Sections, Denotified Tribes and Safai Karamchari communities were reportedly trained. Of these, 96,162 beneficiaries were placed in employment.
6. GOBARdhan and Compressed Biogas: A Petroleum Ministry workshop in Mumbai focused on promoting Compressed Biogas (CBG). BPCL was identified as the nodal agency for the initiative discussed at the workshop.
7. Yamuna Rejuvenation Projects: Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated and laid foundation stones for Yamuna rejuvenation projects worth more than ₹8,941 crore in Delhi. A time-bound plan involving the Centre and the governments of Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh aims to clean the Yamuna by May 2029.
8. Core Sector Growth: The eight core industries coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement and electricity reportedly grew by 7.9% in September 2026, compared with a revised 5.9% in August.
9. SBI Customer Data Exposure: State Bank of India reported that a cyberattack led to the exposure of around 3.75 lakh customer records on the dark web. Of these, 3,897 records reportedly contained personally identifiable information, including names, mobile numbers and addresses. The incident was brought to the bank’s attention by a threat-intelligence provider, the Defence Cyber Agency and CERT-In.
Defence Updates
1. BEL Radar Contract Worth ₹770 Crore: The Ministry of Defence signed a contract worth approximately ₹770 crore with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) for Improved Low Level Light Weight Radars (LLLR-I) for the Indian Army. The radars can detect and track fighter-sized aerial targets as well as mini and micro drones.
3. India–Brazil–South Africa Maritime Exercise: IBSAMAR IX – The ninth edition of IBSAMAR concluded at Simon’s Town, South Africa, after ten days of harbour and sea phases. The Indian Navy was represented by INS Tarkash.
4. SIMBEX 2026: The 33rd edition of the Singapore–India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX) began at Visakhapatnam. Singapore Navy ship RSS Supreme participated.
5. India–Australia Exercise AUSTRAHIND: The fifth edition of the India–Australia joint Army exercise AUSTRAHIND 2026 began in Thiruvananthapuram.
6. Rafale-Marine Trials: The Indian Navy conducted trials of the Rafale-Marine fighter at the Shore-Based Test Facility in Goa, which replicates an aircraft carrier’s take-off ramp. India is acquiring 26 Rafale-M aircraft .Deliveries are expected from 2028 to 2030 for operations from INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya.
International Current Affairs
1. India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA): The FTA reportedly came into force on 20 October 2026. CBIC Chairman Vivek Chaturvedi and New Zealand Customs chief Christine Stevenson signed a cooperation agreement on electronic origin-data exchange to facilitate tariff benefits.
2. India–Poland Strategic Partnership: Polish PM Donald Tusk visited New Delhi for bilateral talks with PM Narendra Modi and an India–Poland Business Forum to strengthen strategic and commercial ties.
3. India–United States Energy Cooperation: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Reliance Industries’ Jamnagar refinery after meetings with Indian business leaders. US Ambassador Sergio Gor stated that the US share of India’s LPG imports had risen from below 10% to 67% in one year.
4. India–Germany and India–Netherlands Engagement: Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal was scheduled to visit Germany and the Netherlands from 19–27 October, including the Berlin Global Dialogue. Around 100 businesses and start-ups were expected to accompany the delegation to promote trade, investment and technology cooperation.
5. India at the UN General Assembly: At the Third Committee of the UNGA, India opposed the selective use of human-rights concerns to target countries on unverified allegations and called for dialogue, cooperation, transparency and non-selective engagement.
6. India and the Global South: Addressing the NDTV World Summit, themed “A World Between Orders,” PM Narendra Modi called for reformed global institutions and a greater voice for the Global South. He described India as an emerging global “brain office” driven by talent and innovation.
7. Indian Nationals in France: The Indian Embassy in Paris advised Indian nationals to remain vigilant amid unrest and localised curfews, avoid protest sites and large gatherings, and follow instructions issued by local authorities.
World Current Affairs
1. Russia–Ukraine Peace Efforts: Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed in principle to resume trilateral negotiations with the US and Ukraine after 10 November. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv was prepared to freeze the conflict along the existing front line.
2. Ebola Outbreak: Nigeria reported its first Ebola case in Abuja involving a woman who had travelled from Uganda. The reported strain was Bundibugyo, for which the report stated that no approved vaccine or drug was available. The outbreak had spread from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to other countries.
3. UNEP Climate Warning: The UN Environment Programme warned that global temperatures could rise by around 2.6°C above pre-industrial levels by 2100, even if countries meet their climate pledges. The report highlighted the gap between current commitments and the emissions reductions needed to limit global warming.
4. Political Developments in Romania: Romania’s Parliament approved a minority government led by independent PM Luca Niculescu by 280 votes to 58, reportedly ending nearly six months of political deadlock following the previous government’s removal through a no-confidence vote.
Science, Technology & Environment
1. Aditya-L1 Studies the Solar Corona: ISRO’s Aditya-L1 mission produced Doppler velocity images of solar-corona activity using the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC). The data, analysed by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, may help track coronal mass ejections that can affect Earth.
2. NVS-03 Navigation Satellite: ISRO planned to launch NVS-03 on 30 October aboard a GSLV Mk II rocket from Sriharikota. The satellite belongs to the second-generation NVS series and is intended to strengthen NavIC, India’s indigenous satellite navigation system.
3. Next-Generation Heavy-Lift Launch Vehicle: ISRO planned to showcase a model of a proposed launch vehicle capable of placing over 30,000 kg into low Earth orbit at ESTIC 2026 in New Delhi from 27–29 October. Chandrayaan-4 and Chandrayaan-5 projects were also expected to be showcased. India’s stated ambition is to send astronauts to the Moon by 2040.
4. Telecommunications Regulatory Sandbox Rules, 2026: The Department of Telecommunications notified rules under Section 27 of the Telecommunications Act, 2023, to enable controlled testing of new telecom technologies and services. The framework reportedly permits time-bound exemptions for up to 24 months initially, with an application fee of ₹10,000.
5. Three Indian Sites Added to UNESCO Tentative List: The sites are the Karst-Mud Volcano Complex of Baratang and Andaman Subduction Volcanoes in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, both natural sites, and the Sirpur Cultural and Archaeological Landscape in Chhattisgarh, a cultural site. Tentative List inclusion is an initial step towards possible World Heritage nomination.
6. Two Subterranean Fish Species Discovered: Two species were reported from wells in Assam’s Goalpara district: Gitchak nakana, a tiny, transparent and blind loach around 2 cm long, and Rakthamichthys anchi, a slender, eel-like swamp eel.
7. Urban Mobility India Conference: The 19th edition was scheduled in Bhubaneswar on 23–24 October under the theme “Urban Accessibility and Liveability in Digital Age.” The second National Urban Conclave was scheduled for 24–25 October.
Sports Update
1. India at the Asian Para Games: Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
- Simran’s Double Gold: Simran won gold in the women’s 100 m T12 with a Games record of 12.02 seconds. She had also won the women’s 200 m T12 gold, setting a Games record of 24.80 seconds in the earlier event.
- Dilip Gavit won gold in the men’s 100 m T46/47 in 10.69 seconds; Mohammed Basil took silver.
- Sachin Khilari won the men’s shot put F46 with a reported distance of 15.87 m, while Mohd Yasser and Parveen completed the podium.
- Praveen Kumar won gold in the men’s high jump T44/64 with a Games record of 2.05 m.
- Sharath Makanahalli’s medal in the men’s 1500 m T12 was upgraded from bronze to silver following a rival’s disqualification.
- Sheetal Devi : Archer Sheetal Devi won gold in the compound mixed team event with Toman Kumar, defeating Indonesia 151–148, and also won the individual gold.
- Dharmaraj Solairaj won long-jump gold with an Asian record of 7.15 m.
- Anjanaben Bumbadiya and Suvarna Raj were also reported among the gold medallists in their respective events.
2. Badminton: French Open
- P.V. Sindhu defeated Thailand’s Supanida Katethong 21–14, 8–21, 23–21 to advance to the second round.
- Ayush Shetty defeated compatriot Kidambi Srikanth after losing the opening game.
- Lakshya Sen gave a walkover to Japan’s Kodai Naraoka.
Important Observances Day
1. World Food Day – 16 October : Focuses on food security, nutrition, sustainable agriculture and efforts to end hunger. Theme for the year was “Innovate today. Nourish tomorrow.”
2. International Day for the Eradication of Poverty – 17 October: Highlights the need to address poverty, social exclusion and inequality.
3. International Snow Leopard Day – 23 October: Raises awareness about snow leopard conservation and the protection of fragile mountain ecosystems.
4. ITBP Raising Day – 24 October: The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) is associated with guarding India’s Himalayan frontier and operating in high-altitude conditions.
Miscellaneous One-Liners Current Affairs
- Aadi Bazaar 2026: TRIFED will organise the tribal artisan market in Raipur from 24 October to 2 November, featuring handicrafts, handloom, jewellery, paintings and forest-based products.
- Kashi Tamil Sangamam 5.0: Scheduled in Varanasi from 28 November to 12 December under the theme “Thirukkural Payilvom.”
- Chinmaya Amrit Mahotsav: A global gathering was scheduled at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, from 23–25 October to mark 75 years of the Chinmaya Mission.
- Jaipur: Named by National Geographic in its Best of the World 2027 list; the city will mark 300 years since its founding in 2027.
- Golden Chariot: The “Pride of Karnataka” journey resumed on 24 October, reportedly with all 75 guest places booked.
- Sengol artisan: Vummidi Ethiraj, remembered for crafting the historic Sengol presented to Jawaharlal Nehru, passed away. The Sengol was installed in the new Parliament building in 2023.
- President’s Chhattisgarh visit: President Droupadi Murmu was scheduled to release a commemorative coin honouring Mata Hasi Devi Ji and attend the Muriya Darbar during Bastar Dussehra.
- Energy Week 2027: Scheduled in Kolkata from 28–31 January 2027.
- Manipur unrest: Women protesters clashed with police in Imphal after the killing of three Meitei men; separate reports described homes being set on fire in a Kuki village in Kamjong district.
- India–US energy imports: The reported rise in the US share of India’s LPG imports to 67% was highlighted during discussions on energy cooperation.
- India–Global South: India called for reform of global institutions and stronger representation for developing countries.
