Dear Readers, Here we have given the list of Important Weekly Current Affairs of  22nd to 31st October 2026. Candidates those who are preparing for Upcoming SBIClerk 2026 and other competitive exams can make use of it.

Weekly Current Affairs October 22nd  & 31st PDF Download

CURRENT AFFAIRS: IMPORTANT DAYS

World Osteoporosis Day is observed annually on 20 October to raise global awareness about the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of osteoporosis and metabolic bone diseases.

National Solidarity Day is observed annually on 20 October in India to commemorate the 1962 India–China War and honour the courage and sacrifices of Indian Armed Forces personnel.

Police Commemoration Day is observed annually on 21 October in India to honour police personnel who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty.

World Iodine Deficiency Day (WIDD), also known as Global Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD) Prevention Day, is observed annually on 21 October to raise awareness about iodine deficiency, its health effects and the importance of adequate iodine intake.

International Stuttering Awareness Day (ISAD) is observed annually on 22 October to raise awareness about stuttering, promote understanding of the condition and support people who experience speech disfluency.

World Polio Day is observed annually on 24 October to raise awareness about poliomyelitis (polio), a highly contagious viral disease that can affect the  central nervous system and cause permanent paralysis.

United Nations Day is observed annually on 24 October to commemorate the establishment of the United Nations (UN) and promote international peace, cooperation and collective action.

World Development Information Day is observed annually on 24 October to draw public attention to development challenges and encourage international cooperation through improved access to information.

The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) observed its 65th Raising Day on 24 October 2026, commemorating its establishment in 1962 following the India–China War.

World Day for Audiovisual Heritage (WDAH) is observed annually on 27 October to raise awareness about the importance of preserving audiovisual materials, including films, television and radio recordings, and other moving images and sound documents.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : BANKING, FINANCE & BUSINESS

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) revised the Closing Auction Session (CAS) framework to improve transparency, price discovery and orderly market closing.

Canara HSBC Life Insurance Company Limited launched the Global Wealth Plan, a USD-denominated, unit-linked, non-participating life insurance-cum-savings plan through Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), Gujarat.

Japan emerged as the largest source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into India during Q1 FY 2026–27 (April–June 2026), with inflows of US$5.71 billion.

1 Finance Private Limited, an advisory and wealth-tech firm, received in-principle approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to establish an Asset Management Company (AMC) under the Mutual Funds Lite (MF Lite) framework.

The All India Consumer Products Federation and the All India Mobile Retailers Association withdrew their proposed ‘No UPI Day’ protest following a meeting with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi.

The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), India, and the New Zealand Customs Service (NZCS) signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) on the electronic exchange of origin data for trade in goods.

The World Bank Group (WBG) launched its first comprehensive Digital Strategy at the inaugural Global Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Digital Summit 2026 held in Seoul, South Korea, to expand digital connectivity, create jobs, and strengthen AI readiness in developing countries.

The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) launched NPS Central, a unified digital platform for National Pension System (NPS) subscribers, on NPS Diwas, 1 October 2026.

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has proposed insurance commission caps that could reduce the insurance fee income of banks and Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs).

The shares of the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) will be available for trading on the Metropolitan Stock Exchange of India (MSE) under the ‘Permitted to Trade’ category from 24 September.

Bank of Baroda (BoB) launched ‘bob Cyber Veeru’, a cybersecurity mascot, in October 2026 during National Cybersecurity Awareness Month to promote safe digital banking and prevent online fraud.

AU Small Finance Bank (AU SFB) partnered with Paytm (One 97 Communications Ltd.) to launch the Paytm AU SFB Credit Card, described as India’s first Family Lounge Access RuPay Credit Card.

Bank of Baroda (BoB) launched its festive campaign “bob Ke Sang Tyohaar Ki Umang – Shubh bhi, Labh bhi”, offering benefits on home loans, car loans, MSME financing, savings products, and debit card spending.

The Department of Financial Services (DFS) under the Ministry of Finance (MoF) launched a nationwide Financial Inclusion (FI) Saturation Campaign from 21 October to 31 December 2026.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) clarified that banks must maintain a Foreign Exchange Risk Reserve (FERR) equal to 20% of the rupee value of eligible foreign exchange derivative contracts in their Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) accounts, over and above the mandatory CRR balance.

The Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Nirmala Sitharaman, chaired the 30th Meeting of the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) in New Delhi.

The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) and Bank of India (BOI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 22 October 2026 to collaborate on quantum financial innovation and the adoption of emerging technologies in banking.

India’s core industrial growth accelerated to 7.9% in September 2026, marking the highest growth in the new data series since April 2024, driven by improved performance in the coal, refinery products and iron ore sectors.

BSE Limited, formerly known as the Bombay Stock Exchange, signed an agreement with MMTC-PAMP India Private Limited to jointly develop and expand India’s Electronic Gold Receipts (EGR) market.

Retail inflation in India rose to a nearly two-year high of 5.5% in September 2026, compared with 4.8% in August 2026, according to official data released on 12 October 2026.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) fixed the final redemption price of Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGB) 2018–19 Series II at ₹14,425 per gram, with maturity on 23 October 2026.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) ₹169-crore data centre and Cybersecurity Training Institute in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, on 25 October 2026.

PhonePe and the Digital Publisher Content Grievances Council (DPCGC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote regulatory compliance and grievance redressal in India’s Over-the-Top (OTT) sector.

National Commodities and Derivatives Exchange (NCDEX) launched two rule-based equity indices, NDEX and FINNDEX, on 22 October 2026, marking its entry into the equity and equity derivatives markets.

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated the corporate office of Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited (SMFCL) on 23 October 2026 at the Institute for Studies in Industrial Development (ISID), New Delhi.

State Bank of India (SBI) inaugurated CyRIS (Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence) in Mumbai on 26 October 2026 to strengthen cybersecurity capabilities and address emerging digital threats.

PhonePe, a Walmart-owned fintech company, launched ‘Tatkal NPS’, a digital facility that enables users to open a National Pension System (NPS) account with a minimum initial contribution of ₹250.

Skydo, a cross-border payments platform serving Indian businesses, received final authorisation from the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) to operate as a Payment Service Provider (PSP) at GIFT City, Gujarat.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) introduced a real-time margin waiver framework allowing clients to use the value of shares delivered through Early Pay-in (EPI) towards margin requirements for subsequent buy and sell positions in the cash market.

The Ministry of Finance has notified 1 November 2026 as the effective date for amendments under the Finance Act, 2026, relating to post-supply discounts, provisional GST refunds under the Inverted Duty Structure (IDS), and export refunds.

PB Money has received an Online Bond Platform Provider (OBPP) licence from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to simplify bond investments and expand access to fixed-income products for retail investors.

India’s soybean imports reached a record 1.1 million metric tonnes in the 2025/26 marketing year, compared with approximately 2,000 tonnes in the previous year.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and the Bank of England (BoE) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen regulatory cooperation and information exchange concerning SEBI-recognised Clearing Corporations.

India’s industrial output growth slowed to a four-month low of 6.7% in September 2026, according to data released by the National Statistics Office (NSO).

According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). India’s net Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) remained positive for the third consecutive month in August 2026, with inflows exceeding outflows by US$3.3 billion.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL AND STATE NEWS

The National Steering Committee (NSC) of the Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded Industrial Training Institutes (PM-SETU) Scheme approved five Strategic Investment Plans (SIPs) worth ₹1,194.92 crore to upgrade Industrial Training Institute (ITI) clusters across Maharashtra, Odisha and Jammu and Kashmir.

The Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY), implemented by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, has covered over 47,200 villages, benefiting more than 47.79 lakh citizens across India under its Adarsh Gram component.

The Government of India (GoI) released a ₹100 commemorative coin and a ₹5 commemorative postage stamp honouring Ghanshyam Dass Jain, a renowned musician, composer, philanthropist and cultural personality, during the National Annual Cultural Conclave held at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi, Delhi.

The Delhi Government, under Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, has approved the establishment of the Go-Delhi Foundation to promote startups, innovation and entrepreneurship in the national capital.

The Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PM-VBRY) was launched in August 2025 to encourage formal employment and generate job opportunities.

The Government of India introduced the Telecommunications (Regulatory Sandbox) Rules, 2026 to establish a framework for testing emerging telecommunications technologies, products and services under controlled conditions before their wider deployment.

The Government of India plans to make selected Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) safety features mandatory in cars, particularly taxis, as part of its efforts to reduce road accidents and improve passenger safety.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has constituted a special investigation team to investigate a security incident involving eMudhra’s global digital certificate infrastructure.

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) introduced Form 173A to enable eligible investors to claim income-tax exemptions on interest income and capital gains earned from government securities.

The Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS), known as UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik), completed 10 years, having been launched on 21 October 2016 in line with the National Civil Aviation Policy, 2016 to make regional air travel affordable and commercially viable by connecting unserved and underserved airports.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare will conduct the nationwide Khet Bachao Abhiyan – Rabi 2026 from 22 October to 30 November 2026 to promote sustainable agriculture, improve soil health and encourage the judicious use of agricultural resources.

The Punjab Government launched SANGAT Mental Health Clubs in 40 colleges across the state to strengthen mental health awareness among young people, encourage early intervention and help prevent substance abuse under its flagship campaign Yudh Nashean Virudh.

Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, was included in National Geographic’s Best of the World 2027 list of destinations worth visiting in the coming year.

The Digital India BHASHINI Division and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, jointly developed text-to-speech (TTS) models for Sourashtra, a minority Indo-Aryan language spoken predominantly by the Sourashtra community in Tamil Nadu.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, approved the operationalisation of Ladakh’s first Government Medical College in Leh from the academic year 2027–28, following the intervention of Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena.

Vinai Kumar Saxena, Lieutenant Governor (LG) of the Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh, notified 100 constituencies for the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDCs), nearly doubling the existing strength of 52 constituencies.

Uttar Pradesh secured first place in India for implementing Mission Karmayogi and strengthening the capacity of government officials and employees.

Rajasthan is set to formulate its first dedicated State Veterinary Policy to strengthen veterinary services, improve livestock health and support the rural economy.

Vinai Kumar Saxena, Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, declared Ladakh India’s first 100% organic Union Territory, marking a significant step towards sustainable agriculture and environmental protection in the Himalayan region.

The Kerala Government has granted permission to the Kerala Civil Aviation Development Cooperative Society to launch airline services, according to Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan.

The Department of Commerce, under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has extended the timelines under Component II of the Resilience and Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation initiative until 31 March 2027.

The National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management, Kundli, hosted Hack the Fork, described as India’s first Artificial Intelligence and Food Technology Hackathon, focused on using artificial intelligence to address real-world challenges in the alternative protein industry.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has proposed making Advanced Emergency Braking Systems mandatory for all new car models from October 2030 to improve road safety and reduce accidents.

The Digital India BHASHINI Division, under Digital India Corporation, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India, participated in the Goa Artificial Intelligence Technology Conclave 2026, held at INOX, Panaji.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Chinmaya Amrit Mahotsav Global Sammelan at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, and address the gathering.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Uttar Pradesh and Odisha to inaugurate a garment manufacturing facility in Varanasi, witness the Indian Air Force Day Aerial Display–2026, and inaugurate the Reserve Bank of India’s Data Centre and Cybersecurity Training Institute in Bhubaneswar.

Union Minister J. P. Nadda stated that India’s chemicals and petrochemicals sector needs to expand from its current market size of approximately $220 billion to $1 trillion by 2040 and $1.6 trillion by 2047.

The Government of India has created 11 crore Farmer IDs across the country under the Digital Agriculture Mission, achieving the target five months ahead of the March 2027 deadline.

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Gram Swaraj Yojana (PM VGSY), a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) aimed at transforming grassroots governance and supporting the national vision of Viksit Bharat.

The Supreme Court of India expressed satisfaction that 14 states had agreed to increase the retirement age of district judicial officers from 60 to 62 years and expressed hope that other states would follow.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) notified amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, allowing flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs) specifically designed and certified for ethanol blends of up to E100, or nearly 100% ethanol.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expanded the Council of Ministers by inducting four legislators from the National Conference (NC), nearly two years after the NC-led government assumed office in October 2024.

Vice-President of India C. P. Radhakrishnan released the book ‘Advantage India: Reshaping the Future for an Equitable World’, authored by Anil K. Antony, at Uprashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways notified a concessional annual FASTag local pass under the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) (Fifth Amendment) Rules, 2026.

The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) received the award for Metro Rail with the Best Passenger Service and Satisfaction for the Delhi–Meerut Namo Bharat corridor at the 19th Urban Mobility India  (UMI) Conference and Expo 2026, held in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent to the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA) Bill 2026, which was unanimously passed by the Nagaland Legislative Assembly on 3 September 2026.

Chhattisgarh has selected the Orange Oakleaf (Kallima inachus) as its proposed first official state butterfly.

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved an additional 3% instalment of Dearness Allowance (DA) for Central Government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) for pensioners, effective from 1 July 2026.

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the Container Manufacturing Promotion Scheme (CMPS) with a budgetary outlay of ₹10,000 crore up to Financial Year 2039–40.

The National Statistics Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has proposed changes to the schedule of the Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE) 2027–28 to improve its policy relevance and address emerging data requirements.

Ayushman Vay Vandana completed two years on 29 October 2026.

According to the World Bank’s October 2026 Poverty and Equity Brief, India lifted an estimated 496 million people out of poverty between 2011 and 2023.

The Ministry of Culture will organise the second edition of the India Art, Architecture and Design Biennale (IAADB), now named The India Biennale, beginning on 4 December 2026.

The Ministry of Labour and Employment notified the constitution of the National Social Security Board for Unorganised Workers and Gig and Platform Workers under the Code on Social Security.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : INTERNATIONAL NEWS

The United States (US) suspended several major IT companies from the Permanent Labour Certification Programme on 8 October 2026, affecting their ability to sponsor eligible foreign workers for US green cards.

The Permanent Delegation of India to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) announced the addition of three Indian sites to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List.

The 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) was held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) in Cape Town, South Africa.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) released the 2026 Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Gender Report, titled “Gender Equity in Access to Education”, on the occasion of the International Day of the Girl Child (11 October 2026).

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) released the 17th edition of the Emissions Gap Report (EGR) 2026, titled “The Point of Return.”

Donald Franciszek Tusk, Prime Minister (PM) of Poland, undertook a three-day official visit to India from 21 to 23 October 2026 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

India’s National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS) signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United States-based Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) to strengthen agricultural research, scientific collaboration, capacity development and knowledge exchange.

France confirmed its first human case of Shamonda virus on 22 October 2026; the patient, who was severely immunocompromised, died earlier that month.

The Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD) has provisionally earmarked funds for Nepal to support recovery from the devastating August 2026 flash floods, marking the first time the Fund has allocated money for a specific disaster in a specific country.

Greece’s Parliament approved legislation on 23 October 2026 banning children under 15 years of age from using social media platforms.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) released the first global coral reef assessment under the Red List of Ecosystems (RLE) at the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Yerevan, Armenia.

The 14th International Tourism Mart (ITM) 2026 is being held from 29–31 October 2026 at Hotel Vivanta, Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh.

The FORTRESS America initiative was formally launched by US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on 30 September 2026.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : DEFENCE NEWS

The 5th edition of India–Australia Joint Military Exercise AUSTRAHIND 2026 commenced on 19 October 2026 at the Foreign Training Node, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, and will continue until 1 November 2026.

India and Russia conducted the 15th edition of the bilateral naval exercise INDRA-2026 at Vladivostok and the Sea of Japan (East Sea), Russia, to strengthen maritime cooperation, operational interoperability and coordination between their navies.

The Indian Navy will organise the 5th edition of Swavlamban 2026, its flagship Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Seminar, on 26–27 October 2026 at the Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a contract worth approximately ₹770 crore with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) to procure the Improved Low Level Light Weight Radar (LLLR-I) on 21 October 2026.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) conducted an Industry Outreach Programme at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, on 21 October 2026 to engage with industry stakeholders, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), startups, and industry partners regarding its long-term requirements for unmanned and autonomous systems.

Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh inaugurated ‘GYANDEEP’, a newly established Hindi library, at Sena Bhawan, New Delhi, on 22 October 2026.

The 33rd edition of the Singapore–India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX-2026) commenced on 21 October 2026 at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh (AP), involving the Indian Navy (IN) and the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN).

Ships of the Indian Navy’s First Training Squadron (1TS), comprising INS Tir, INS Sujata, and Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Sarathi, arrived off Malé, Maldives, on 21 October 2026 as part of the squadron’s Long Range Training Deployment.

The Indian Navy will conduct the Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue (IPRD-2026) from 3 to 5 November 2026 at the Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Indian Army (IA) launched a first-of-its-kind joint training initiative to strengthen India’s Civil Defence preparedness.

Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh will lead the Indian delegation at the 13th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) in Cebu, Philippines, from 28 to 29 October 2026.

Indian Naval Ship (INS) Trishul arrived at Civitavecchia, Italy, on 25 October 2026, during its operational deployment to the Mediterranean Sea.

Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh stated that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) is collaborating with the IndiaAI Mission to develop a dedicated military AI layer for India’s armed forces.

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for capital acquisition proposals worth approximately ₹2.12 lakh crore (₹2,12,000 crore) on 26 October 2026.

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh released the Land Warfare Doctrine to provide an overarching framework for preparing the Indian Army (IA) to address evolving warfare challenges and future conflicts.

Project Arunank of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) celebrated its 19th Raising Day on 24 October 2026 at Naharlagun, Arunachal Pradesh.

Yard 1283 (Srishti), a Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel (NGOPV), was launched on 27 October 2026 at Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL), Goa.

On 26 October 2026, the Indian Navy conducted the launch of the first Sullage Barge (Yard 142), the keel laying of the third Sullage Barge (Yard 144), and the keel laying of the first Bottom Opening Dumb Barge (Yard 148).

The 11th edition of the India–Indonesia Joint Special Forces Exercise GARUDA SHAKTI 2026 commenced at Banyuwangi, Indonesia.

Raksha Rajya Mantri Sanjay Seth will inaugurate VISV-2026 on 30 October 2026 at the Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has launched the Special Campaign for Disposal of Pending Matters (SCDPM 6.0) across its headquarters, laboratories and establishments.

The Indian Navy’s indigenous Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system achieved a major development milestone on 24 October 2026 with the inauguration of the Setting to Work Phase-2 (STW-2) activity for its Energy Module.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Hinduja Tech Limited., a mobility-focused engineering and Research & Development (R&D) technology company, has appointed Faiz Ahmad as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective 1 November 2026.

Nagaraju Maddirala, former Secretary of the Department of Financial Services (DFS), has been appointed Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services (IL&FS) for a period of two years.

The Central Government appointed Lavanya R. Mundayur as the Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD) of New India Assurance Company Limited (NIACL).

IndusInd General Insurance Company Limited. appointed Sharad Mathur as its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD & CEO) on 20 October 2026, following statutory approvals.

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the appointment of Sunil Kumar as the next Chairman of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) for a combined tenure of three years.

Anca-Maria Verma has been appointed Ambassador-at-Large of the Inter-Governmental Institution for the Use of Micro-Algae Spirulina Against Malnutrition (IIMSAM) for India for a five-year term, from 20 October 2026 to 19 October 2031.

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the incumbent President of Brazil and leader of the Workers’ Party (Partido dos Trabalhadores – PT), was re-elected for a fourth non-consecutive presidential term in the 2026 Brazilian Presidential Election, held on 25 October 2026.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) appointed Dr. Sajjan Singh Yadav, a 1995-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram and Union Territories (AGMUT) cadre, as the new Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved a one-year extension for Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh until 31 October 2027.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) assigned the additional charge of Director General (DG) of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) to Sanjay Singhal, Director General of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).

Air Marshal Vikram Gaur was appointed Additional Secretary in the Department of Military Affairs (DMA) under the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in October 2026, becoming the first Indian Air Force (IAF) officer to hold this position.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: AWARDS AND HONOURS

Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat will confer the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar for 2024 and 2025 on 106 young artists for their contributions to the fields of music, dance and drama.

Ameena Nazreen A S received a US$500 cash award at the Global Youth Institute in Des Moines, Iowa, United States.

A Kochi-based architecture student won the 28th Charles Correa Gold Medal in Mumbai for the undergraduate thesis titled “Energy Commons: Reimagining Energy Infrastructure as a Place for Civic Engagement.”

Ashoke Sen, a renowned Indian theoretical physicist and International Centre for Theoretical Sciences (ICTS)–Infosys Madhava Chair Professor based in Bengaluru, has become the first Indian physicist to receive the Oskar Klein Medal.

The Assam Government will present the first Bharat Ratna Dr Bhupen Hazarika National Award to Indian playback singer Usha Mangeshkar in New Delhi.

Lionel Messi, the Argentine footballer, received the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award at a ceremony held in Oviedo, the capital of the Principality of Asturias, Spain.

Shabari Naturals, a Maharashtra Government initiative promoting products associated with tribal communities and forest gatherers, has won the Global Design Award (G-Mark) for its distinctive packaging inspired by traditional tribal art.

Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar received the First Class Order of Zayed II, a high-level civilian decoration of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), for protecting 174 passengers aboard a Flydubai flight during an alleged attack by his co-pilot.

England captain Harry Kane won the men’s Ballon d’Or for the first time, becoming the first Englishman in 25 years to receive football’s top individual honour. Spain’s Alexia Putellas won the Women’s Ballon d’Or for the third time.

The New India Foundation (NIF) announced the shortlist of five books for the 2026 Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay NIF Book Prize (KCBP).

Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder and Chairman of Bharti Enterprises, was conferred the Chevalier de l’Ordre national de la Légion d’honneur (Knight of the National Order of the Legion of Honour), France’s highest civilian honour.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: MOUS AND AGREEMENT

BharathCloud, a Hyderabad-based company, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the High-Technology Technopark IT-Park in Kazan, located in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, to explore cooperation in Artificial Intelligence (AI), cloud infrastructure, investment and cross-border business partnerships.

The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) and the Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR) have formalised a strategic partnership to expand doctoral research opportunities in Earth System Sciences.

India and Poland agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in defence, space, nuclear energy and emerging technologies during comprehensive discussions between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in New Delhi.

Karmayogi Bharat and OpenAI signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expand Artificial Intelligence (AI) learning opportunities for India’s government workforce by integrating approved OpenAI Academy resources into the iGOT Karmayogi digital learning platform.

Pakistan, Turkey, Qatar and Indonesia signed the Badr Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Doha, Qatar, to strengthen defence industrial cooperation, joint military production, research and development, technology sharing and technical training.

The Centre for Development of Telematics, the research and development centre of the Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University), Varanasi, to establish its sixth Centre of Excellence.

The International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore signed a Memorandum of Understanding with AGH University of Krakow, Poland, to collaborate on research and academic activities in Artificial Intelligence, quantum technologies and other emerging fields.

India and Sri Lanka are strengthening cultural cooperation through the SAMHiTA Project (South Asian Manuscript Histories and Textual Archive), launched at Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo, Sri Lanka, to preserve their shared Buddhist and civilisational heritage.

NLC India Limited (NLCIL) and the Industrial Promotion and Investment Corporation of Odisha Limited (IPICOL) signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) in Mumbai to undertake major industrial projects in Odisha with a proposed investment of ₹37,000 crore.

As part of the Team Canada Trade Mission, Minister Sidhu announced 34 commercial agreements, partnerships and foreign direct investment  (FDI) outcomes between Canadian and Indian organisations, with a combined estimated value of nearly $300 million.

Sarvam AI, an Indian artificial intelligence company, signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS) to develop and deploy Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications for the Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force.

The Ministry of Culture, Government of India, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF), or National Library of France, in Paris, under the Gyan Bharatam Mission.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : APPS & PORTALS

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) introduced the ‘Toll Plaza Feedback’ feature on the Rajmargyatra mobile app to allow National Highway (NH) users to share feedback on toll plaza services and improve their overall travel experience.

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare (MoAFW), launched the upgraded Agri Welfare Portal on 19 October 2026 to provide farmers with single-window access to government schemes, financial assistance, and reliable agricultural information.

Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the upgraded National Mobile Monitoring System (NMMS) 2.0 mobile application on 23 October 2026 to strengthen attendance monitoring under the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G).

The Union Minister of Jal Shakti launched the Punah Bharan Mobile Application to promote scientific groundwater recharge planning and sustainable water management.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS

CARE Edge Ratings Limited (CARE Ratings) has signed a share purchase agreement and a shareholders’ agreement with the State Bank of India (SBI) and NSE IFSC (NSEIX) to sell a 19.8% stake in its wholly owned subsidiary, CareEdge Global International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) Limited (CGIL).

Brazilian aerospace manufacturer Embraer S.A. signed an agreement with Mahindra Defence Systems Limited (MDSL), the defence arm of Mahindra & Mahindra Limited (M&M), to acquire a 51% controlling stake in Novavayu Aerospace Limited (NAL).

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved the acquisition of 100% of the equity share capital of Sahrudaya Health Care Private Limited by Maybach Asia Holdings II Pte. Ltd.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : SUMMITS & CONFERENCES

The World Health Summit (WHS) 2026, a leading global health platform, was held from 11 to 13 October 2026 in Berlin, Germany, under the theme “From Crisis to Resilience: Innovating for Health.”

The 7th AgriVoltaics World Conference (AWC) 2026 was inaugurated at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, from 21 to 23 October 2026, under the theme “Powering the Global South.”

The 19th Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference and Exhibition 2026 was inaugurated by Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Tokhan Sahu in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, on 23 October 2026.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) launched the uncrewed Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission aboard an H3 rocket from the Yoshinobu Launch Complex at Tanegashima Space Center, Japan, to collect samples from Phobos, one of Mars’s moons.

Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Armed Forces, announced the successful test-firing of the extended-range (ER) variant of the Fatah-II surface-to-surface missile (SSM) by the Army Rocket Force Command (ARFC).

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has initiated the development of man-portable Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) systems to detect, intercept, and analyse signals emitted by enemy radars, drones, and other electronic systems.

VORAN Private Limited, an Indian aviation startup, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with W&S Innovation – Aviation Artur Trendak, a Poland-based aviation company, to explore technology collaboration in gyroplane aviation and potential light aircraft manufacturing in India.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced that its Perseverance rover set a new extraterrestrial driving record by travelling 45.22 kilometres (28.06 miles) on Mars on 11 October 2026, surpassing the previous record of 45.16 kilometres held by NASA’s Opportunity rover.

The Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), a premier laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), shortlisted SSS Defence and the Kalyani Group as Development-cum-Production Partners (DcPPs) for developing India’s first indigenous 20 mm aviation gun and turret system.

Ethereal Exploration Guild (The Guild), a Bengaluru-based private space technology company, unveiled The Anchorage, a 150-acre rocket development and testing facility.

CSIR-Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI), in association with Bharat Tiki Tar Shell India Private Limited (BTS), organised the Indian Airport Pavement Symposium (IAPS 2026) in New Delhi.

Google DeepMind and Google.org partnered with the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) to develop an open-access global genetic atlas, with a particular focus on sorghum.

The Technology Development Board (TDB), under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, signed an agreement with Manastu Space Technologies Private Limited, based in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, to support indigenous space technology development.

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Dr. Jitendra Singh, Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) and Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), inaugurated the Atmospheric Chemistry and Aerosol Toxicity Analysis Laboratory (AATAL) at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) in New Delhi, Delhi.

ICEYE, Nokia, and the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) to explore cooperation in sovereign satellite communications.

CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CSIR-CCMB), Hyderabad, identified DZIP3, a protein that detects viral RNA and activates the body’s innate antiviral immune response.

Centaurus X-3 is one of the brightest X-ray pulsars and is a high-mass X-ray binary (HMXB) located approximately 24,000 light-years away in the constellation Centaurus.

L&T Technology Services Limited (LTTS), an Indian Engineering Research and Development (ER&D) services company, signed a five-year contract with Nokia to support its engineering, R&D, and global technology operations.

HCLTech has partnered with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to launch an AI-powered nano Global Capability Centre (GCC) offering to help enterprises move from AI experimentation to business deployment and high-value business outcomes.

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi launched the Science on Wheels programme in Himachal Pradesh to promote practical science education among school students, particularly those in rural areas.

Ukraine joined NATO Support and Procurement Agency’s (NSPA) Security Cooperation Support Partnership (SCSP) on 22 October 2026, enabling Ukrainian defence companies to access NATO procurement contracts and tenders.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SPORTS NEWS

Sheetal Devi and Toman Kumar won the gold medal in the compound mixed team event at the 2026 Asian Para Games, defeating Indonesia’s Teodora Audi Ayudia Ferelly and Ken Swagumilang 151–148 in the final Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

Indian table tennis players Yashaswini Ghorpade and Harmeet Desai secured a mixed doubles medal at the 29th International Table Tennis Federation–Asian Table Tennis Union (ITTF–ATTU) Asian Championships 2026, held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Nitesh Kumar and Naveen Sivakumar of India won gold medals in the men’s singles SL3 and SL4 categories, respectively, in para badminton at the 2026 Asian Para Games in Nagoya, Japan.

Harry Brook, England’s limited-overs captain, scored the fastest double century in One-Day International (ODI) cricket, reaching the 200-run milestone in just 114 balls against Sri Lanka in the third match of the tri- series in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

Sabbhineni Meghana, popularly known as S. Meghana, an Indian top-order batter from Andhra Pradesh, announced her retirement from all formats of cricket at the age of 30.

Bodhana Sivanandan, an 11-year-old English chess player of Indian origin, became the youngest woman in chess history to earn the International Master (IM) title at the European Women’s Chess Club Cup 2026.

Nihal Sarin and Koneru Humpy won Individual Gold medals, while Pentala Harikrishna secured an Individual Silver medal at the European Chess Club Cup 2026, held in Montenegro.

Ahmedabad, Gujarat, has been awarded the hosting rights for the World Weightlifting Championships 2029, marking the first time the international competition will be held in India.

India finished fourth at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, securing its best-ever tally of 114 medals — 30 gold, 35 silver and 49 bronze.

The World Under-19 Boxing Championships 2026 were held in Budva, Montenegro, with the bouts taking place at the Mediterranean Sports Center.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BOOKS AND AUTHOR

Former Prasar Bharati Chairman Surya Prakash released the book “The Evolution of TV News in India: From Doordarshan to Digital Disruption – An Insider’s Account”, authored by veteran broadcaster and former Doordarshan producer Harsaran Bir Kaur Pandey.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : ENVIRONMENT

Researchers from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Western Ghats Regional Centre, and Malabar Christian College, Kozhikode, Kerala, discovered three new centipede species in Kerala and Karnataka.

Erhaia dijiang is a newly described freshwater cave snail belonging to the family Erhaiidae, discovered for the first time in China.

Researchers Namita Nath of Gauhati University, Assam, and Barnali Das of Pragjyotish College, Assam, documented a new flowering plant species named Osbeckia assamensis in Manas National Park, Assam.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : OBITUARIES

Renowned fisheries scientist and academician B. Madhusoodana Kurup, the founding Vice-Chancellor (VC) of Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS), passed away at the age of 71 in Kochi, Kerala, on 18 October 2026.

Renowned jeweller and craftsman Vummidi Ethiraj passed away at the age of 99 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

Tom Skerritt (Thomas Roy Skerritt), a veteran American Hollywood actor, passed away at the age of 93 in Seattle, Washington, United States.

P. Krishnan, former Senior Deputy Editor of Sportstar, passed away in Chennai on 20 October 2026 at the age of 69.

K. Damodaran, popularly known as Chef Damu, was a renowned Tamil chef and Padma Shri awardee who passed away at the age of 72 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, on 25 October 2026, following a brief illness.

Jogen Chowdhury, a renowned Indian painter and former Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament (MP), passed away at the age of 87 in Kolkata, West Bengal, on 25 October 2026.

Japanese novelist and filmmaker Ryū Murakami Passed away at the age of 74.

Yasuo Fukuda, former Prime Minister of Japan, passed away in Tokyo, Japan, at the age of 90.

Neeraj Yadav,a 42-year-old Indian Paralympian, javelin thrower and three-time Asian Para Games gold medallist in para-athletics passed away in New Delhi, Delhi.