Invasive Lantana Spreads Across More Than 13 Million Hectares in India
American lantana, scientifically known as Lantana camara, is an invasive shrub that has spread through forest ecosystems in India. As of October 2026, one estimate places its spread...
SpaDeX Satellites Re-enter Earth’s Atmosphere Seven Hours Apart
The Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) satellites, SDX01 and SDX02, re-entered Earth’s atmosphere on 12 October 2026 in UTC, about seven hours apart. Their...
Japan to Launch MMX Mission to Sample Phobos
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is scheduled to launch the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission on 20 October 2026, Japan Standard Time. The spacecraft will travel aboard an...
Trade Margin Rationalisation Covers 137 Anti-Cancer Drugs
On 17 October 2026, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) announced Trade Margin Rationalisation (TMR) for 137 non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs. The NPPA operates under the Department of Pharmaceuticals,...
INS Sudarshini Visits Oman During Lokayan-2026
INS Sudarshini, a three-masted sail training ship of the Indian Navy, completed a port call at Salalah, Oman, during its ten-month Lokayan-2026 transoceanic deployment. The ship departed Salalah...
An Se Young Sets Women’s Singles Title Record
South Korean badminton player An Se Young won her 47th career international singles title at the Denmark Open on 18 October 2026. The BWF World Tour Super 750...
Daily Current Affairs Quiz: October 18-19, 2026
1. Which mineral was recently identified in Neyveli, Tamil Nadu, as a terrestrial analogue for Martian environments? [A] Jarosite[B] Melanterite[C] Alunite[D] Kieserite Show Answer Correct Answer: B [Melanterite]...
National Institutions for Biodiversity Research in India
National institutions support biodiversity research through species surveys, taxonomic work, conservation planning and policy advice. Their distinct mandates—from documenting flora and fauna to monitoring forests and regulating access...
Major Armistices and Peace Treaties in Modern Asia
Armistices and peace treaties are distinct instruments for ending or managing conflict. Their terms may halt fighting, define post-war arrangements and create mechanisms for peacebuilding, while unresolved disputes...
Korean Peninsula: Countries and Strategic Significance
The Korean Peninsula is divided between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) in the north and the Republic of Korea (ROK) in the south. Its post-war division,...
Important Electricity Regulatory Institutions in India
India’s electricity regulatory framework distributes responsibilities between central and state institutions, with appellate review provided by a specialised tribunal. The Electricity Act, 2003 supplies the main statutory framework,...