Current Affairs Quiz - October 2026

Notes:
Delhi Government launched the “One Zone, One Operator” project worth ₹17,969 crore to improve sewerage infrastructure. Delhi will be divided into 6 zones, with one operator responsible for sewer lines, manholes, pumping stations and complaints. Delhi Water & Sewer (Tariff and Metering) Regulations, 2026 replace the 2012 regulations. Delhi Jal Board (DJB) will shift from reactive repairs to planned preventive maintenance, with geo-tagged inspections, real-time monitoring and 100% mechanical/robotic sewer cleaning. DJB currently manages 11,212 km sewer lines, 6.68 lakh manholes and 145 pumping stations across 68 Assembly constituencies.

Notes:
The World Congress of Gastroenterology (WCOG 2026) was held in New Delhi from 1–3 October 2026. This is the first time India hosted the World Congress of Gastroenterology. The theme of WCOG 2026 is “Transforming Gastrointestinal Health, Preserving Nature.” The Congress was jointly hosted by the Indian Society of Gastroenterology (ISG) and the World Gastroenterology Organisation (WGO). The Congress focused on gastrointestinal health, clinical practice, research, innovation and multidisciplinary exchange. The approach gave importance to preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative healthcare. The National Health Policy 2017 marked an important shift towards a comprehensive, holistic and inclusive healthcare system.

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An international team involving researchers from India has used the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME) telescope to make its first standalone detection of the faint radio glow of hydrogen from when the universe was about 5 billion years old. The study involved researchers from Raman Research Institute (RRI), an autonomous institute under India’s Department of Science and Technology (DST). CHIME is an interferometric radio telescope located in Canada. It is designed to map the distribution of hydrogen gas in the universe. The detection can help scientists study the expansion of the universe and dark energy, the mysterious phenomenon associated with the accelerating expansion of the universe.

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Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2027 ranked 2,297 universities across 118 countries and territories, making it the most extensive edition so far. Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru is the highest-ranked Indian institution, placed 254th globally. India has 143 universities in the 2027 rankings, 15 more than the previous year, making India the most represented country in Asia for the second consecutive year. Times Higher Education (THE) rankings assess universities on parameters including teaching, research environment, research quality, industry links and international outlook. University of Oxford retained the 1st position globally for the 11th consecutive year.

Notes:
The Galaxy Frog (Melanobatrachus indicus) recently came into the spotlight after Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu’s Environment, Climate Change and Forests Department, shared new images of the species. It is a rare amphibian found in the southern Western Ghats of India. It is endemic to the southern Western Ghats, with records mainly from Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It generally inhabits wet evergreen and other moist forests at elevations of around 1,000–1,500 metres. The species was first described in 1878 from the Anamalai Hills of Tamil Nadu and was rediscovered in 1997. The IUCN classifies the Galaxy Frog as Vulnerable.

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Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav launched the Guidelines for implementation of the National Coastal Mission (NCM 2.0) in New Delhi. NCM 2.0 is a Central Sector Scheme with an outlay of ₹767 crore, to be implemented up to 2030–31. The Mission will cover 9 coastal States and 4 Union Territories. Its main objective is to strengthen the resilience and sustainability of India’s coastal regions while promoting the Blue Economy. NCM 2.0 will focus on coastal vulnerability assessment, ecosystem restoration, pollution management and biodiversity conservation. It will also promote sustainable tourism, spatial planning, research and capacity building in coastal areas.

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The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) released the flagship report “The State of the World’s Forests 2026: Restoring Forests and Landscapes – The Way Forward for a Sustainable Future.” The report highlights that around 1.56 billion hectares of land, nearly 10% of the world’s land area, is degraded. More than 460 million hectares of forests are estimated to be degraded globally. Major drivers of forest degradation are climate change, population growth, urbanisation, infrastructure development, land-use change and resource demand. The report states that approximately 469 million hectares need to be effectively restored to meet the 2030 target under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF).

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Recent Ukrainian reports have claimed that Russian forces used Misagh-2 systems in the Rostov region to intercept Ukrainian UAVs. Misagh-2 is an Iranian-manufactured man-portable air-defence system (MANPADS). It is a short-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) designed to engage low-flying aerial targets, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The missile uses a passive infrared (IR) seeker to detect the heat signature of its target. It has a fire-and-forget capability, meaning the operator does not need to continuously guide the missile after launch. This allows the operator to leave the firing position quickly after launching the missile.

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The Afro-Asian Sand Snake, also known as the Schokari Sand Racer, was recently spotted in Kachchh (Kutch), Gujarat, after more than 150 years. The sighting is significant because the species had not been conclusively recorded in Kutch since the 19th century. The Afro-Asian Sand Snake is adapted to dry and arid habitats and is mainly found in parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat in India. It is a slender and fast-moving snake and is mildly venomous, generally posing little danger to humans. The discovery highlights the rich biodiversity of Kutch’s desert and scrubland ecosystems.

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The WHO–UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) released the report “Progress on Drinking Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Schools 2015–2025.” In 2025, around 244 million children worldwide lacked sanitation services in their schools. India accounted for about 50 million of these children, the highest number for any country. Around 20 million Indian children lacked hygiene services at school, although recent data limitations prevented the JMP from providing updated hygiene coverage estimates for India beyond 2024. India is among 28 of 62 countries considered on track to achieve universal basic drinking-water coverage in schools by 2030. The report monitors WASH — Water, Sanitation and Hygiene services in schools as part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).