Current Affairs Quiz - October 2026

Notes:
The Indian Navy (IN) is scheduled to commission its indigenous vessel, Samarthak, at the Karwar Naval Base (INS Kadamba) in Karnataka on October 16, 2026. Samarthak is the first of four Multi-Purpose Vessels (MPVs) indigenously designed and constructed by private shipbuilder Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T) under the Government of India’s (GoI) Make in India initiative. It is designed primarily for maritime patrol and coastal surveillance. The vessel supports Low Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO), Target Deployment and Trials, mothership capabilities for autonomous or unmanned systems, and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR). The Multi-Purpose Vessel (MPV) can also be reconfigured as a limited hospital ship or deployed for salvage missions.

Notes:
Subhash Tamang, a 24-year-old golfer from Nepal, became the first Nepali player to compete in a DP World Tour event at the DP World India Championship held at Delhi Golf Club. Tamang hails from Lalitpur, Nepal, and discovered golf while visiting the Royal Nepal Golf Club in Kathmandu. He secured his place in the championship after finishing 23rd in the DP World–Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) Tour Order of Merit. He developed his game with support from members of the Royal Nepal Golf Club and trained at the Tarun Sardesai Golf Academy in Bengaluru.

Notes:
World Food Day is observed annually on 16 October to commemorate the establishment of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations in 1945. The day aims to raise awareness about hunger, malnutrition, food security and the need for sustainable food systems. It is recognised in more than 150 countries, encouraging governments, communities and individuals to work towards eliminating hunger. World Food Day highlights the importance of access to safe and nutritious food, agricultural development and international cooperation. The 2026 theme is “Innovate today. Nourish tomorrow.”, announced by the FAO. The theme emphasises innovation and collective action to build resilient food systems and ensure sustainable nutrition for future generations.

Notes:
World Anaesthesia Day is observed annually on 16 October to commemorate the first public demonstration of ether anaesthesia by William T. G. Morton on 16 October 1846. The historic demonstration took place at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, United States. The World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists (WFSA) presidential theme for 2026–2028 is “Anaesthesiology Along the Patient Pathway.” The day highlights the expanding role of anaesthesiologists beyond operating theatres. The observance raises awareness of the importance of anaesthesia in improving patient safety, pain relief and surgical outcomes.

Notes:
The 7th Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) was held in Baku, Azerbaijan, to discuss regional cooperation, mutual trust and peace in Asia. India’s delegation was led by Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh. The summit adopted the Baku Declaration, emphasising connectivity, digitalisation and sustainable growth as important elements of confidence-building and development in Asia. India called upon CICA member states to unite against all forms of terrorism and stressed that regional connectivity projects must respect national sovereignty and territorial integrity. India, a founding member of CICA, reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive dialogue, consensus-building and regional cooperation.

Notes:
North Korea recently unveiled an AI-guided underwater weapon designated as the ‘Zam-2.0’ torpedo system. A torpedo is a self-propelled, underwater explosive weapon designed to attack surface ships or submarines. The Zam-2.0 system integrates artificial intelligence for enhanced target detection and homing guidance underwater. Unlike autonomous weapons that make independent engagement decisions, guidance automation primarily aids course correction using sensor data. This technological advancement reflects North Korea’s growing emphasis on modernization and stealth capabilities in its naval defense architecture.

Notes:
Recently, WWF-India, in collaboration with the Rajasthan Forest Department, released a report highlighting Kailadevi Wildlife Sanctuary as an important area for wildlife conservation and tiger recovery in Rajasthan. The report, titled Status and Conservation of Carnivores and Wild Ungulates in Kailadevi Wildlife Sanctuary, was released in Jaipur. Kailadevi Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Karauli district of Rajasthan. It was established in 1983 and covers an area of approximately 674 square kilometres. The sanctuary forms an important part of the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve landscape and supports wildlife movement across eastern Rajasthan.

Notes:
Recently, the Government of India reconstituted the Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB) on 16 October 2026, appointing Subhas Chandra Lal Das (S. C. L. Das) as its Chairman. Das is a retired 1992-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the AGMUT cadre and former Secretary of the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME). His term is three years from the date of notification of the resolution. FSIB operates under the Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance. It replaced the Banks Board Bureau (BBB) in 2022, which was established in 2016 to improve public sector bank governance and recommend candidates for senior positions.

Notes:
Recently, China released the first official footage showing the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) H-6K bomber launching an air-launched variant of the YJ-21 anti-ship ballistic missile. The missile is developed by China. The missile is also associated with the designations KD-21 and 2PZD-21. The YJ-21 family has been associated with platforms including H-6-series bombers and Type 055 destroyers. This capability could strengthen China’s ability to threaten distant naval formations, including aircraft carrier strike groups, across the Western Pacific from long stand-off distances.

Notes:
Recently, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) conducted the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) to demonstrate autonomous spacecraft docking and other advanced space technologies. The mission demonstrated key capabilities, including autonomous rendezvous, docking, separation and electrical power transfer between two spacecraft in Earth orbit. SpaDeX is an important step towards developing India’s indigenous spacecraft docking technology and strengthening its future space exploration capabilities. The mission’s technology is expected to support future projects, including the Bharatiya Antariksha Station (BAS), satellite servicing and refuelling, and lunar sample-return missions.