1.
INS Samarthak, the first of the Indian Navy's Multi-Purpose Vessels, was commissioned on 16 October 2026 in a ceremony presided over by Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan, with Navy Chief Adm Krishna Swaminathan present. Built by L&T Shipyard, it is the first major warship built by an Indian private shipyard.
Key facts
- Ship: INS Samarthak, first-of-class Multi-Purpose Vessel (MPV)
- Builder: L&T Shipyard - first major warship from an Indian private shipyard
- Commissioned 16 Oct 2026 by Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan
Why it matters for exams: "First private-yard warship" is the kind of milestone that is asked repeatedly.
Practice MCQ
Which shipyard built INS Samarthak, commissioned in October 2026?
- (A) Cochin Shipyard
- (B) L&T Shipyard
- (C) Mazagon Dock
- (D) Hindustan Shipyard
Show answer
Answer: (B) L&T Shipyard. INS Samarthak was designed and built by L&T Shipyard, the first major warship by an Indian private shipyard (PIB, MoD, 16 Oct 2026).
Source: PIB - Ministry of Defence (Release ID 2324581), 16 October 2026
2.
The Department of Consumer Affairs sent the first-ever Kanda Express to Agartala, Tripura, carrying about 440 tonnes of buffer onions under the Price Stabilization Fund, to improve availability and keep prices affordable in the North East before the festive season.
Key facts
- Train: first-ever Kanda Express to Agartala, Tripura
- Load: about 440 MT of buffer onions, expected by 18 Oct 2026
- Scheme: Price Stabilization Fund (PSF)
Why it matters for exams: Price Stabilization Fund interventions are asked in economy and inflation questions.
Practice MCQ
Under which fund are buffer onions moved by the Kanda Express?
- (A) Price Stabilization Fund
- (B) National Food Security Fund
- (C) Agriculture Infrastructure Fund
- (D) PM-KISAN
Show answer
Answer: (A) Price Stabilization Fund. Buffer onions are distributed under the Price Stabilization Fund (PSF) (PIB, 16 Oct 2026).
Source: PIB - Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution (Release ID 2324270), 16 October 2026
3.
Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat will confer the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar for 2024 and 2025 on 106 young artists in music, dance and drama on 19 October 2026 in New Delhi. The award was instituted by the Sangeet Natak Akademi in 2006 for artists up to 40 years of age.
Key facts
- Award: Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar, for 2024 and 2025
- Recipients: 106 young artists (music, dance, drama)
- Instituted by Sangeet Natak Akademi in 2006; age limit 40 years
Why it matters for exams: National awards, their institutors and age limits are standard awards questions.
Practice MCQ
The Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar was instituted by which body?
- (A) Lalit Kala Akademi
- (B) Sangeet Natak Akademi
- (C) Sahitya Akademi
- (D) ICCR
Show answer
Answer: (B) Sangeet Natak Akademi. It was instituted by the Sangeet Natak Akademi in 2006 for artists up to 40 (PIB, Ministry of Culture, 16 Oct 2026).
Source: PIB - Ministry of Culture (Release ID 2324489), 16 October 2026
4.
The 14th Joint Working Group meeting of the Defence Ministries of India and Mongolia was held in Ulaanbaatar on 16 October 2026. Both sides reviewed defence cooperation and welcomed the successful conclusion of Exercise Nomadic Elephant.
Key facts
- Meeting: 14th India-Mongolia Defence JWG, Ulaanbaatar, 16 Oct 2026
- Exercise referenced: Nomadic Elephant (India-Mongolia)
- Co-chaired by JS Dr Ishita Ganguli Tripathy (India)
Why it matters for exams: Nomadic Elephant (India-Mongolia) is a frequently asked exercise pairing.
Practice MCQ
Exercise Nomadic Elephant is held between India and which country?
- (A) Kazakhstan
- (B) Mongolia
- (C) Kyrgyzstan
- (D) Uzbekistan
Show answer
Answer: (B) Mongolia. The India-Mongolia JWG appreciated the conclusion of Exercise Nomadic Elephant (PIB, MoD, 16 Oct 2026).
Source: PIB - Ministry of Defence (Release ID 2324373), 16 October 2026
5.
The Technology Development Board signed an agreement with QNu Labs, Bengaluru, for Rs 150 crore under the RDI Fund. The Rs 300 crore project will build an indigenous backbone for India's Quantum Secure and Sensing Networks (IQSN), taking technologies from TRL 4-5 to TRL 9.
Key facts
- Support: Rs 150 crore from TDB-DST (RDI Fund), as optionally convertible debt
- Project cost: Rs 300 crore; Quantum Secure and Sensing Networks (IQSN)
- Company: QNu Labs, Bengaluru
Why it matters for exams: Quantum technology funding is a growing science and tech question area.
Practice MCQ
How much RDI Fund support did TDB sign with QNu Labs in October 2026?
- (A) Rs 86 crore
- (B) Rs 130 crore
- (C) Rs 150 crore
- (D) Rs 300 crore
Show answer
Answer: (C) Rs 150 crore. TDB signed for Rs 150 crore; the project cost is Rs 300 crore (PIB, DST, 16 Oct 2026).
Source: PIB - Ministry of Science & Technology (Release ID 2324307), 16 October 2026
6.
The 6th National Steering Committee of PM-SETU, chaired by MSDE Secretary Debashree Mukherjee, approved five Strategic Investment Plans worth Rs 1,194.92 crore for ITI clusters in Maharashtra, Odisha and Jammu & Kashmir, taking total approved investment under the scheme to Rs 3,687 crore.
Key facts
- Approval: 5 Strategic Investment Plans, Rs 1,194.92 crore
- States/UT: Maharashtra, Odisha, Jammu & Kashmir
- Cumulative PM-SETU investment approved: Rs 3,687 crore
Why it matters for exams: PM-SETU progress numbers follow from its one-year milestone this month.
Practice MCQ
What is the cumulative investment approved under PM-SETU after the 6th National Steering Committee meeting (October 2026)?
- (A) Rs 1,194.92 crore
- (B) Rs 2,500 crore
- (C) Rs 3,687 crore
- (D) Rs 60,000 crore
Show answer
Answer: (C) Rs 3,687 crore. Cumulative approved investment under PM-SETU reached Rs 3,687 crore (PIB, MSDE, 16 Oct 2026).
Source: PIB - Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (Release ID 2324330), 16 October 2026
7.
A Status Report on Ayush Related Inventions in India (2014-2026), released by the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs & Trademarks during the 11th Ayurveda Day celebrations, shows 4,077 Ayush-related patent applications and 711 grants between FY 2014-15 and FY 2025-26.
Key facts
- Patent applications (FY 2014-15 to 2025-26): 4,077; patents granted: 711
- Report by: Office of the CGPDTM, DPIIT
- Released during the 11th Ayurveda Day celebrations
Why it matters for exams: Ayurveda Day and Ayush data points appear in health and IPR questions.
Practice MCQ
How many Ayush-related patents were granted in India between FY 2014-15 and FY 2025-26, as per the report released in October 2026?
- (A) 411
- (B) 711
- (C) 1,077
- (D) 4,077
Show answer
Answer: (B) 711. The report shows 4,077 applications filed and 711 patents granted (PIB, Ministry of Ayush, 16 Oct 2026).
Source: PIB - Ministry of Ayush (Release ID 2324293), 16 October 2026
8.
The Sports Ministry issued operational guidelines for the revised Scheme of Assistance to National Sports Federations, approved for 2026-27 to 2030-31 (16th Finance Commission cycle) with an outlay of Rs 7,386.74 crore. It funds coaching camps, foreign coaches, sports science support and athlete care.
Key facts
- Scheme: Assistance to National Sports Federations (NSFs), revised
- Period: 2026-27 to 2030-31 (16th Finance Commission cycle)
- Outlay: Rs 7,386.74 crore
Why it matters for exams: Sports funding schemes and outlays are asked in sports and schemes sections.
Practice MCQ
What is the outlay of the revised Scheme of Assistance to National Sports Federations for 2026-27 to 2030-31?
- (A) Rs 3,200 crore
- (B) Rs 5,000 crore
- (C) Rs 7,386.74 crore
- (D) Rs 10,000 crore
Show answer
Answer: (C) Rs 7,386.74 crore. The scheme continues for 2026-27 to 2030-31 with an outlay of Rs 7,386.74 crore (PIB, MYAS, 16 Oct 2026).
Source: PIB - Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (Release ID 2324383), 16 October 2026
