Current Affairs Quiz - October 2026

Notes:
The Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve has witnessed a nearly twofold increase in landslide-prone zones over the past decade, according to the 2026 decadal monitoring report. The Nanda Devi Biosphere Decadal Monitoring Campaign 2026 used field surveys, satellite imagery and drone data to assess ecological and landscape changes. The Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve is located in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. It was declared a national park in 1982, and human activities in its core zone were prohibited in 1983. In 1988, the reserve was included on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Notes:
Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi, a 17-year-old Indian tennis player from Coimbatore, became the youngest Indian woman to win a professional women’s singles tennis title. She won the ITF W35 women’s singles title in Lagos, Portugal, defeating Spain’s Celia Cervino Ruiz by 6–4, 6–2 in the final. She also won the doubles title in partnership with Ukraine’s Yelyzaveta Kotliar. In 2025, she reached the semi-finals of the W125 Mumbai Open at the age of 15, earning her first WTA ranking points. She previously trained at the Rafael Nadal Academy in Spain and later moved to the Elite Tennis Centre in Cannes, France. She has also won junior J300 titles in France and Germany, establishing herself as a promising talent in Indian women’s tennis.

Notes:
Indian cueist Aditya Mehta won the gold medal in men’s snooker at the Commonwealth Cue Sports Championships 2026, held in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. He defeated compatriot Dhvaj Haria 3–0 in the final on 10 October 2026. The victory marked his first international title on Indian soil. The championships brought together 144 players from 42 Commonwealth nations across five cue sports disciplines. India topped the medal table with 13 medals: 3 gold, 5 silver and 5 bronze. India’s other gold medallists were Anupama Ramachandran in women’s English billiards and Rayaan Razmi in men’s English billiards.

Notes:
Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder and Chairman of Bharti Enterprises, was conferred the Chevalier of the National Order of the Legion of Honour by France. The recognition highlights his key role in strengthening bilateral economic and technological ties between India and France. Established as France’s highest state distinction, the Legion of Honour recognizes outstanding merit in civilian and military spheres. Foreign nationals who contribute significantly to France’s international relations or strategic partnerships are eligible to receive this prestigious honor across its five distinct hierarchical classes.

Notes:
Eminent historian, epigraphist and palaeography expert Prof. M.R. Raghava Varier was selected for the M.G.S. Narayanan Memorial Award for his contributions to historical, linguistic and cultural studies. The award is named after M.G.S. Narayanan, a distinguished historian and former Chairman of the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR). Prof. Varier has extensively researched South Indian inscriptions, temple culture and ancient Kerala history. He has also served as Director of the Centre for Heritage Studies. His research integrates epigraphy, linguistics and literature to reconstruct the socio-economic history of regional communities.

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The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, received the highest rating under FSSAI’s ‘Eat Right Place of Worship’ initiative. The temple scored 103 out of 114 points, earning the ‘Ati Vishisht’ rating under the BHOG programme. BHOG stands for Blissful Hygienic Offering to God, which promotes food safety and hygiene at religious institutions. Five other places of worship in Ayodhya, including Hanumangarhi, Kanak Bhawan, a Jain temple and Devkali Temple, also received BHOG certification.

Notes:
The Karnataka State Board for Wildlife rejected four proposed stone-quarrying projects near Kappatagudda Wildlife Sanctuary in Gadag district, Karnataka. The decision aims to protect the sanctuary’s biodiversity-rich landscape from mining and quarrying activities. The sanctuary is situated in the Kappatagudda hill region of northern Karnataka. It protects a biodiversity-rich landscape and provides habitat for wildlife and native vegetation. The region is associated with dry and tropical deciduous vegetation and scrubland.

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Researchers at the Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Mohali, developed a sustainable catalytic filter to treat dye-contaminated wastewater. The technology combines zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles and biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) nanofibres. Turmeric extract was used to synthesise ZnO nanoparticles, with natural compounds acting as reducing and stabilising agents. Light and mechanical vibrations enhance photocatalytic activity by reducing electron–hole recombination and promoting pollutant degradation. The filter achieved 98.6% decolourisation of methylene blue (MB) and 96.7% of Congo red (CR) within 120 minutes under combined light and ultrasonic excitation.

Notes:
World Students’ Day is observed on 15 October to commemorate the birth anniversary of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. Dr. Kalam was India’s 11th President (2002–2007) and was popularly known as the ‘Missile Man of India’ and the ‘People’s President’. He was a renowned scientist who made significant contributions to India’s space and missile programmes. He studied aeronautical engineering and played an important role in India’s scientific and technological development.

Notes:
The Technology Development Board (TDB) is financing the development of ‘YETI’, an indigenous autonomous heavy-lift logistics aircraft. YETI operates as a hybrid Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) platform, seamlessly integrating vertical take-off capability with fixed-wing forward flight. This design allows high operational flexibility by eliminating runway dependence while ensuring extended range and endurance compared to standard rotorcraft. The aircraft is intended for autonomous payload delivery, equipment transport, and military or civilian supply chain movement in rugged terrains.