Current Affairs Quiz - October 2026

Notes:
Indian compound archer Ganesh Mani Ratnam Thirumuru won the men’s individual bronze medal at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya. The 20-year-old defeated Vietnam’s Cong Duc Dang 149–144 in the bronze-medal playoff. Ganesh had earlier won gold in the men’s team event and lost to South Korea’s Kim Jongho 144–148 in the semifinal. In the quarterfinal, he defeated Chinese Taipei’s Chieh-Lun Chen 148–138, winning all five series.

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Scientists from the University of Sydney identified two new species of giant stick insects named Anchiale robusta and Anchiale mabiensis in Australia. The research focused on the stick insect genus Anchiale. A species that had been misidentified for decades was also recognised as a separate species, Anchiale robusta. Another newly described species is Anchiale mabiensis, found in the Mabi rainforest of Queensland’s Atherton Tablelands. Australia has around 130 known stick insect species, while about 3,609 species are known worldwide. The findings could help in forestry and agriculture, as some stick insects can reach very high populations and damage trees by feeding on leaves.

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Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri launched the GOBARdhan Scheme on 1 October 2026 to accelerate India’s Compressed Biogas (CBG) sector. The Union Cabinet approved the scheme on 6 August 2026 with an outlay of ₹23,731 crore. It provides a 10-year framework from FY 2026–27 to FY 2035–36. GOBARdhan integrates six major interventions: offtake assurance, pricing framework, capital assistance, pipeline infrastructure, credit guarantee support and Ecosystem Challenge Fund. A Unified GOBARdhan Portal and GOBARdhan Handbook were also launched for streamlined implementation.

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Recently, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched India’s first indigenously designed and built Fleet Support Ship (FSS), named ‘Surya’, at Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), Visakhapatnam. He also laid the keel of the fifth Fleet Support Ship (FSS-5). Fleet Support Ships are designed to provide at-sea replenishment, logistics and maintenance support to naval vessels, helping the Navy operate for longer periods in distant maritime areas. These ships will have large cargo and fluid capacity, maintenance workshops, helicopter decks and self-defence systems.

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The 8th edition of Windergy India 2026 was inaugurated at the Chennai Trade Centre, Tamil Nadu. It was organized by the Indian Wind Turbine Manufacturers Association (IWTMA) and PDA Ventures with MNRE and Ministry of Power support. India registered a record addition of 6.05 GW of wind energy capacity in FY 2025–26, raising cumulative installed capacity to 58.52 GW by August 2026, alongside 28 GW under implementation. The initiatives align with India’s target to achieve 100 GW of wind energy capacity by 2030. The summit hosted more than 400 global exhibitors across 20 countries, featuring dedicated national pavilions from Denmark, Germany, and Spain.

Notes:
Francis Halzen, a distinguished professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, was awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physics for his pioneering contributions to the IceCube Neutrino Observatory and the detection of high-energy cosmic neutrinos. His visionary work led to the construction of the world’s largest neutrino detector at the South Pole. This breakthrough opened a new window into astronomy, enabling scientists to trace high-energy cosmic rays back to their sources, such as active galactic nuclei, using neutrinos as cosmic messengers instead of light.

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Recently, the Union Cabinet approved a ₹10,000 crore government commitment for the SME (Small and Medium Enterprises) Growth Fund. The fund was announced in the Union Budget 2026–27 and will provide direct equity investment to small and medium enterprises. It will operate through an Alternative Investment Fund (AIF). The main aim is to provide long-term growth capital to viable and scalable SMEs that need funds to expand. The fund will support sectors such as manufacturing, services, technology, innovation and strategic value chains.

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The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed authorities to identify and demarcate the Full Tank Level (FTL) and buffer zone of Shahpura Wetland. The Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC), Water Resources Department (WRD) and SDM Kolar have been directed to coordinate with the committee constituted by the NGT. Shahpura Wetland (Shahpura Lake) is located in Bhopal district, Madhya Pradesh. It is situated in Shahpura village, under Kolar tehsil (subdistrict) of Bhopal.

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Recently, Team AgniRath from IIT Madras secured 3rd place overall in the Sasol Solar Challenge 2026 held in South Africa. The team’s solar-powered vehicle Aagneya covered 1,192.6 km in eight days, travelling from Johannesburg to Cape Town via Jeffreys Bay. Team AgniRath became the first Indian team to participate in the Sasol Solar Challenge and win a trophy. Aagneya is the team’s second-generation solar race car, designed, engineered and manufactured entirely by its student members. The Sasol Solar Challenge is a biennial competition that tests solar-vehicle technology, innovation, engineering, manufacturing and strategy.

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Recently, Ladakh launched India’s first high-altitude wildlife safari focused on Snow Leopard conservation during Wildlife Week 2026. The initiative is implemented by the Snow Leopard and High-Altitude Nature Conservation (SHAN) Society in collaboration with the Department of Forest, Ecology and Environment, UT Ladakh. Initially, the safari will operate in Rumbak, Shang and Uley, which are known for frequent snow leopard sightings. The programme will use open-back vehicles, trained local drivers and wildlife guides along designated routes.