Daily Current Affairs Quiz: September 29, 2026

Notes:
The 9th edition of Exercise KAZIND-2026 is conducted from 28 September to 11 October 2026 at Oskemen, Kazakhstan. Exercise KAZIND is a joint military exercise between India and Kazakhstan. India has sent a 60-member contingent, mainly from a battalion of the Garhwal Rifles, along with personnel from other services and the Indian Air Force. The exercise focuses on joint counter-terrorism operations in semi-urban and mountainous terrain under a United Nations mandate. The exercise aims to improve interoperability, operational coordination, mutual trust and professional cooperation between the two armed forces.

Notes:
India secured 10th position at the 48th WorldSkills Competition 2026 held in Shanghai, China. India won 6 Silver Medals and 20 Medals for Excellence, improving from its 13th position at WorldSkills Lyon 2024. India’s six silver medallists were Smriti Nambiar (Bakery), Mohammed Salam (Dental Prosthetics), Kovid Ajay Gangrade (Digital Interactive Media Design), Parth Vohra (Industrial Design Technology), Mehrunissa Begum (Logistics and Freight Forwarding) and Saniya Joshi (Retail Sales). Smriti Nambiar was also named Best of Nation for India. India sent its largest-ever contingent of 70 competitors, competing across 63 skills.

Notes:
The Global Cooling Pledge Assembly 2026 was held in Singapore in September 2026, focusing on sustainable cooling and protection against extreme heat. Singapore, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Dong Mingzhu, Chairwoman of Gree Electric Appliances, were named the first-ever Cool Leaders. Singapore was recognised for passive cooling and heat resilience, while the UAE was recognised for district cooling and global cooling policy. The Assembly also held the first meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee on Cooling to coordinate implementation of the Global Cooling Pledge. Global demand for cooling is expected to rise sharply, with the number of air conditioners projected to reach 5.6 billion by 2050.

Notes:
Researchers have discovered a new species of ancient microscopic fungus preserved on a fossilised plant leaf in Mandi district, Himachal Pradesh. The fossil was found in the Middle Siwalik sedimentary formations and dates back around 8–12 million years, during the Late Miocene epoch. Palaeobotanists from Sidho-Kanho-Birsha University, Purulia, West Bengal, identified the fungus and named it Vizellopsidites miocenicus. The fungus has distinctive features that differentiate it from its previously known relative, Vizellopsidites siwalika. The discovery provides clues about ancient Himalayan ecosystems and past climate conditions.

Notes:
World Rabies Day is observed every year on 28 September. The 2026 theme is “Stronger Together”, highlighting cooperation among human, animal and environmental health sectors under the One Health approach. The date marks the death anniversary of Louis Pasteur, who developed the first rabies vaccine. The main goal is to raise awareness and help eliminate human deaths from dog-mediated rabies. Vaccinating domestic animals is an important way to prevent transmission at its source.