1.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took part in the Centenary Celebrations of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on 1 October 2026. He said recruitment should bring in youth driven by public service rather than public office, and described the government's mantra as "Nagrik Devo Bhava".
Key facts
- Event: UPSC Centenary Celebrations, Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi (1 Oct 2026)
- UPSC traces its origins to 1926; centenary marked in 2026
- Mantra cited: "Nagrik Devo Bhava" (citizens are divine)
Why it matters for exams: UPSC is a constitutional body and its centenary is a likely static-plus-current GK question on polity and governance.
Practice MCQ
Where were the Centenary Celebrations of UPSC, attended by the Prime Minister on 1 October 2026, held?
- (A) Vigyan Bhawan
- (B) Bharat Mandapam
- (C) Yashobhoomi
- (D) Kartavya Bhawan
Show answer
Answer: (B) Bharat Mandapam. The PM participated in the UPSC Centenary Celebrations at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi (PIB, 1 Oct 2026).
Source: PIB - Prime Minister's Office (Release ID 2317531), 1 October 2026
2.
INS Trishul arrived at Toulon, France, on 22 September 2026 for the 24th edition of Varuna, the annual bilateral maritime exercise of the Indian Navy and the French Navy. The harbour phase included professional, sporting and cultural engagements, and the crew laid a wreath at the Mazargues War Memorial, Marseille.
Key facts
- Exercise: Varuna (India-France), 24th edition
- Indian ship: INS Trishul; arrived at Toulon on 22 Sep 2026
- Wreath laid at Mazargues War Memorial, Marseille, for 205 Indian soldiers of the World Wars
Why it matters for exams: Bilateral exercise names and partner countries (Varuna = France) are among the most-asked defence questions in SSC and bank exams.
Practice MCQ
Exercise Varuna is a bilateral maritime exercise between India and which country?
- (A) United Kingdom
- (B) France
- (C) Japan
- (D) United States
Show answer
Answer: (B) France. Varuna is the annual bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian Navy and the French Navy; its 24th edition involved INS Trishul at Toulon (PIB, 1 Oct 2026).
Source: PIB - Ministry of Defence (Release ID 2317552), 1 October 2026
3.
Narendra Bhooshan, a 1992-batch IAS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, assumed charge as Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). He moved from the post of Secretary, Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development.
Key facts
- New Secretary, MoEFCC: Narendra Bhooshan
- IAS 1992 batch, Uttar Pradesh cadre
- Previous post: Secretary, Department of Land Resources
Why it matters for exams: Secretary-level appointments in key ministries are regularly asked in the appointments section of bank and SSC GA.
Practice MCQ
Who assumed charge as Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, as announced on 1 October 2026?
- (A) Tanmay Kumar
- (B) Narendra Bhooshan
- (C) Rajesh Kumar Singh
- (D) Vivek Aggarwal
Show answer
Answer: (B) Narendra Bhooshan. Narendra Bhooshan (IAS 1992, UP cadre) assumed charge as Secretary, MoEFCC, after serving as Secretary, Department of Land Resources (PIB, 1 Oct 2026).
Source: PIB - Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (Release ID 2317443), 1 October 2026
4.
The Finance Ministry announced that the 5th Kautilya Economic Conclave (KEC 2026) would be held in New Delhi from 3 to 5 October 2026 under the theme "Resilience in an Age of Flux", with over 200 participants from around 30 countries discussing global fragmentation, technology, trade and finance.
Key facts
- Edition: 5th Kautilya Economic Conclave (KEC 2026)
- Dates and venue: 3-5 Oct 2026, New Delhi
- Theme: "Resilience in an Age of Flux"
Why it matters for exams: Conclave themes and editions are standard one-liners in economy current affairs.
Practice MCQ
What was the theme of the 5th Kautilya Economic Conclave held in October 2026?
- (A) Resilience in an Age of Flux
- (B) Seeking Prosperity in a Turbulent World
- (C) Building Trust in a Fragmented World
- (D) Growth with Stability
Show answer
Answer: (A) Resilience in an Age of Flux. KEC 2026 was themed "Resilience in an Age of Flux" (PIB, Ministry of Finance, 1 Oct 2026).
Source: PIB - Ministry of Finance (Release ID 2317567), 1 October 2026
5.
With the new sugar season starting on 1 October, the Centre fixed a stock limit for sugar dealers to prevent hoarding. From 15 October to 30 November 2026, a dealer cannot hold sugar for more than 15 days from receipt or more than 1,000 quintals at any time; the limit is 2,000 quintals for Kolkata and its metropolitan area and Assam.
Key facts
- Stock limit for sugar dealers: 1,000 quintals (2,000 quintals in Kolkata area and Assam)
- Maximum holding period: 15 days from receipt
- Valid from 15 Oct 2026 to 30 Nov 2026; sugar season begins 1 October
Why it matters for exams: Stock-limit orders are used to control food inflation, a recurring topic in economy and banking awareness.
Practice MCQ
Under the October 2026 order, what is the maximum quantity of sugar a dealer (outside Kolkata and Assam) may hold?
- (A) 500 quintals
- (B) 1,000 quintals
- (C) 2,000 quintals
- (D) 5,000 quintals
Show answer
Answer: (B) 1,000 quintals. Dealers may not hold more than 1,000 quintals (2,000 quintals in Kolkata and Assam) from 15 Oct to 30 Nov 2026 (PIB, 1 Oct 2026).
Source: PIB - Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution (Release ID 2317497), 1 October 2026
6.
NHAI rolled out Tamil Nadu's first Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling system at the Paranur Toll Plaza on the Tambaram-Tindivanam section of NH-179B. Vehicles pass without stopping while tolls are collected using Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras and FASTag.
Key facts
- System: Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF), barrier-less tolling
- Location: Paranur Toll Plaza, Tambaram-Tindivanam section, NH-179B
- Technology: ANPR + FASTag
Why it matters for exams: Barrier-less tolling and FASTag reforms are frequently asked in infrastructure and digital-payments questions.
Practice MCQ
Tamil Nadu's first Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling system was rolled out at which toll plaza?
- (A) Sriperumbudur
- (B) Paranur
- (C) Vanagaram
- (D) Krishnagiri
Show answer
Answer: (B) Paranur. NHAI rolled out MLFF at Paranur Toll Plaza on the Tambaram-Tindivanam section of NH-179B (PIB, 1 Oct 2026).
Source: PIB - Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (Release ID 2317639), 1 October 2026
7.
Dharmveer Chaudhary, Manu TS, Jay Kumar and Vishal TK won bronze for India in the men's 4x400m relay at the Asian Games. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the team on the podium finish.
Key facts
- Event: Men's 4x400m relay, Asian Games 2026
- Medal: Bronze
- Team: Dharmveer Chaudhary, Manu TS, Jay Kumar, Vishal TK
Why it matters for exams: Asian Games medal winners are a staple of sports questions in every GA section for the next year.
Practice MCQ
Which medal did India's men's 4x400m relay team win at the Asian Games 2026?
- (A) Gold
- (B) Silver
- (C) Bronze
- (D) No medal
Show answer
Answer: (C) Bronze. The team of Dharmveer Chaudhary, Manu TS, Jay Kumar and Vishal TK won bronze (PIB, PMO, 1 Oct 2026).
Source: PIB - Prime Minister's Office (Release ID 2317886), 1 October 2026
8.
ICAR and the Food Corporation of India signed an MoU on 30 September 2026 to research alternative fumigation technologies for storing wheat and rice. The two-year Phase-I project will be run by ICAR-CIPHET, Ludhiana, as repeated use of aluminium phosphide and malathion has led to pest resistance of 72-100% in key states.
Key facts
- Partners: ICAR and FCI; supported by the Department of Food & Public Distribution
- Implementing institute: ICAR-CIPHET, Ludhiana (two-year Phase-I)
- Current fumigants: aluminium phosphide (ALP) and malathion
Why it matters for exams: Food storage, FCI and ICAR institutes are common in agriculture and economy GA questions.
Practice MCQ
Which ICAR institute will implement the ICAR-FCI project on alternative fumigation technologies for stored grain?
- (A) ICAR-IARI, New Delhi
- (B) ICAR-CIPHET, Ludhiana
- (C) ICAR-NDRI, Karnal
- (D) ICAR-CRRI, Cuttack
Show answer
Answer: (B) ICAR-CIPHET, Ludhiana. The two-year Phase-I project will be implemented by ICAR-Central Institute of Post-Harvest Engineering and Technology (CIPHET), Ludhiana (PIB, 1 Oct 2026).
Source: PIB - Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (Release ID 2317785), 1 October 2026
