1.
The Index of Core Industries (ICI, base year 2022-23) grew 7.9% year-on-year in September 2026 (provisional), higher than the 5.9% recorded in August 2026 (final). Iron ore (18.4%), electricity (11.4%) and coal (10.7%) grew fastest, while fertilizers, natural gas and crude oil contracted.
Key facts
- ICI growth, September 2026: 7.9% (provisional); August 2026 revised up to 5.9% from 4.8%
- Base year of the ICI: 2022-23
- April-September 2026 cumulative growth: 5.1%, against 2.5% a year earlier
Why it matters for exams: Core sector growth figures and the ICI base year are regular banking-awareness and economy questions.
Practice MCQ
By how much did the Index of Core Industries grow in September 2026 (provisional, year-on-year)?
- (A) 5.1%
- (B) 5.9%
- (C) 7.9%
- (D) 10.7%
Show answer
Answer: (C) 7.9%. The ICI grew 7.9% year-on-year in September 2026 (provisional), up from 5.9% in August 2026 (PIB, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, 21 Oct 2026).
Source: PIB - Ministry of Commerce & Industry (Release ID 2326038), 21 October 2026
2.
The Ministry of Defence signed a contract worth about ₹770 crore with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) in New Delhi on 21 October 2026 to procure Improved Low Level Light Weight Radars (LLLR-I) for the Indian Army. The radar can detect and track fighter-size targets and mini/micro drones and prioritise aerial targets, helping the Army counter unmanned aerial systems.
Key facts
- Contract value: about ₹770 crore; signed 21 Oct 2026 in New Delhi
- Supplier: Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL); user: Indian Army
- LLLR-I tracks fighter-size targets and mini/micro drones
Why it matters for exams: Defence contracts (value, supplier, system) are asked often in SSC and bank GA sections.
Practice MCQ
Which company signed the ₹770 crore contract with the MoD for Improved Low Level Light Weight Radars (LLLR-I)?
- (A) Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
- (B) Bharat Electronics Limited
- (C) Bharat Dynamics Limited
- (D) Larsen & Toubro
Show answer
Answer: (B) Bharat Electronics Limited. The MoD signed the ~₹770 crore LLLR-I contract with Bharat Electronics Limited on 21 Oct 2026 (PIB, Ministry of Defence, 21 Oct 2026).
Source: PIB - Ministry of Defence (Release ID 2325933), 21 October 2026
3.
The Army Commanders' Conference, the Indian Army's apex-level biannual forum chaired by the Chief of the Army Staff, began in New Delhi on 21 October and runs till 23 October 2026. Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh is to release the Land Warfare Doctrine and unveil the annual United Nations Journal at the conference.
Key facts
- Dates and venue: 21-23 Oct 2026, New Delhi; apex biannual forum of the Indian Army
- Key highlight: release of the Land Warfare Doctrine by Rajnath Singh
- COAS to confer awards for Green Military Stations and Aviation Flight Safety
Why it matters for exams: New doctrines and apex defence meetings are common one-liners in current affairs quizzes.
Practice MCQ
Which document is to be released by the Raksha Mantri at the Army Commanders' Conference of 21-23 October 2026?
- (A) Joint Doctrine for Cyberspace Operations
- (B) Land Warfare Doctrine
- (C) Indian Maritime Doctrine
- (D) Joint Doctrine for Amphibious Operations
Show answer
Answer: (B) Land Warfare Doctrine. A key highlight of the Army Commanders' Conference (21-23 Oct 2026, New Delhi) is the release of the Land Warfare Doctrine by Rajnath Singh (PIB, Ministry of Defence, 21 Oct 2026).
Source: PIB - Ministry of Defence (Release ID 2325911), 21 October 2026
4.
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) and the New Zealand Customs Service signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on Electronic Origin Data Exchange of Trade in Goods on 19 October 2026. It was signed under the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, which entered into force on 20 October 2026, to help traders use FTA preferences with greater certainty.
Key facts
- Signed 19 Oct 2026 by CBIC Chairman Vivek Chaturvedi and NZ Customs chief Christine Stevenson
- India-New Zealand FTA in force from 20 Oct 2026
- Purpose: advance electronic exchange of origin data on goods trade
Why it matters for exams: FTAs and their dates are frequent international-relations and economy questions.
Practice MCQ
Which Indian body signed the Memorandum of Cooperation on Electronic Origin Data Exchange with the New Zealand Customs Service?
- (A) Central Board of Direct Taxes
- (B) Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs
- (C) Directorate General of Foreign Trade
- (D) Reserve Bank of India
Show answer
Answer: (B) Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs. The MoC was signed by CBIC (Chairman Vivek Chaturvedi) and the New Zealand Customs Service on 19 Oct 2026, under the India-New Zealand FTA (PIB, Ministry of Finance, 21 Oct 2026).
Source: PIB - Ministry of Finance (Release ID 2326043), 21 October 2026
5.
Union Ministers Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Pralhad Joshi jointly inaugurated the three-day AgriVoltaics World Conference 2026 on 21 October, hosted by India for the first time in the Global South. Joshi said India's non-fossil installed electricity capacity has reached 308.03 GW, over 55% of the total of about 560 GW, and that the next phase of PM-KUSUM will launch a large agrivoltaic programme.
Key facts
- Agrivoltaics: solar panels above farmland while crops grow ("One land, two harvests")
- Non-fossil installed capacity: 308.03 GW, over 55% of about 560 GW total
- Average landholding in India: 0.96 hectare (Agriculture Minister's address)
Why it matters for exams: Renewable-energy capacity figures and schemes like PM-KUSUM are frequent exam questions.
Practice MCQ
According to the Union Minister at the AgriVoltaics World Conference 2026, India's non-fossil fuel installed electricity capacity has reached:
- (A) 208.03 GW
- (B) 308.03 GW
- (C) 408.03 GW
- (D) 560 GW
Show answer
Answer: (B) 308.03 GW. Pralhad Joshi said non-fossil installed capacity has reached 308.03 GW, more than 55% of about 560 GW total (PIB, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, 21 Oct 2026).
Source: PIB - Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (Release ID 2326059), 21 October 2026
6.
Sachin Khilari defended his gold medal in the men's shot put F46 at the Asian Para Games 2026 with a season-best throw and led an all-Indian podium sweep. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated him on 21 October 2026.
Key facts
- Event: Men's Shot Put F46, Asian Para Games 2026
- Result: gold (title defended) with a season-best throw
- Podium: all-Indian sweep
Why it matters for exams: Medal winners and events at multi-sport games are standard sports questions.
Practice MCQ
In which event did Sachin Khilari retain his gold medal at the Asian Para Games 2026?
- (A) Men's Javelin Throw F46
- (B) Men's Shot Put F46
- (C) Men's High Jump T64
- (D) Men's Discus Throw F56
Show answer
Answer: (B) Men's Shot Put F46. Sachin Khilari retained his gold in the Men's Shot Put F46 at the Asian Para Games 2026 (PIB, Prime Minister's Office, 21 Oct 2026).
Source: PIB - Prime Minister's Office (Release ID 2326102), 21 October 2026
7.
Praveen Kumar successfully defended his gold medal in the men's high jump T64 at the Asian Para Games 2026, breaking his own Games Record. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated him on 21 October 2026.
Key facts
- Event: Men's High Jump T64, Asian Para Games 2026
- Result: gold (title defended)
- Broke his own Games Record
Why it matters for exams: Records set by Indian athletes are favourite sports questions.
Practice MCQ
In which event did Praveen Kumar defend his gold and break his own Games Record at the Asian Para Games 2026?
- (A) Men's High Jump T64
- (B) Men's Long Jump T64
- (C) Men's Shot Put F46
- (D) Men's 100 m T44
Show answer
Answer: (A) Men's High Jump T64. Praveen Kumar defended his gold in the Men's High Jump T64, breaking his own Games Record (PIB, Prime Minister's Office, 21 Oct 2026).
Source: PIB - Prime Minister's Office (Release ID 2326098), 21 October 2026
8.
Scientists at the Raman Research Institute (RRI), an autonomous institution of the Department of Science and Technology, found that the bright X-ray pulsar Centaurus X-3 draws in matter through an accretion disk, which is rare in high-mass X-ray binaries where material is usually captured directly from the stellar wind. The team, led by Kinjal Roy, traced varying secondary emission lines to an accretion stream co-rotating with the pulsar.
Key facts
- Object: Centaurus X-3, a high-mass X-ray binary about 24,000 light years away in the constellation Centaurus
- Study by: Raman Research Institute (autonomous, under DST), led by Kinjal Roy
- Finding: accretion through a disk, rare for high-mass X-ray binaries
Why it matters for exams: Indian research institutes and space-science findings appear in science and tech GA.
Practice MCQ
Researchers of which institute found that the X-ray pulsar Centaurus X-3 accretes matter through an accretion disk?
- (A) Indian Institute of Astrophysics
- (B) Raman Research Institute
- (C) Physical Research Laboratory
- (D) Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences
Show answer
Answer: (B) Raman Research Institute. The study was by scientists of the Raman Research Institute, an autonomous institution of DST, led by Kinjal Roy (PIB, Ministry of Science & Technology, 21 Oct 2026).
Source: PIB - Ministry of Science & Technology (Release ID 2326032), 21 October 2026
9.
President Droupadi Murmu presented the Lalit Kala Akademi awards to selected artists of the 65th National Exhibition of Art in New Delhi on 21 October 2026. She also felicitated the Grand Prize winners and Honourable Mentions of the 3rd Print Biennale India, 2026.
Key facts
- Awards: Lalit Kala Akademi, 65th National Exhibition of Art
- Presented by President Droupadi Murmu in New Delhi on 21 Oct 2026
- Also felicitated: Grand Prize winners of the 3rd Print Biennale India 2026
Why it matters for exams: National awards and the bodies that give them (Lalit Kala Akademi) are common art-and-culture questions.
Practice MCQ
The Lalit Kala Akademi awards presented by the President on 21 October 2026 were for artists of which National Exhibition of Art?
- (A) 63rd
- (B) 64th
- (C) 65th
- (D) 66th
Show answer
Answer: (C) 65th. President Droupadi Murmu presented the Lalit Kala Akademi awards to artists of the 65th National Exhibition of Art (PIB, President's Secretariat, 21 Oct 2026).
Source: PIB - President's Secretariat (Release ID 2325915), 21 October 2026
10.
SUVIKALP, an in-house Mine Repurposing Tool developed by the Coal Controller Organisation (CCO) under the Ministry of Coal, received the SKOCH Gold Award 2026 in the category 'Digital Operational Efficiency - Data Driven Decision Making' on 26 September 2026. The tool ranks post-mining land repurposing projects on technical, environmental, social and economic criteria.
Key facts
- Tool: SUVIKALP (mine repurposing), developed by the Coal Controller Organisation, Ministry of Coal
- Award: SKOCH Gold 2026, Digital Operational Efficiency - Data Driven Decision Making
- Companion model: PRISM (Post-Mining Repurposing Implementation Strategy Model)
Why it matters for exams: Government digital tools and the awards they win are asked in schemes-and-awards sections.
Practice MCQ
SUVIKALP, the Ministry of Coal tool that won the SKOCH Gold Award 2026, is used for:
- (A) Coal block auctions
- (B) Repurposing of post-mining land
- (C) Coal quality testing
- (D) Mine worker safety training
Show answer
Answer: (B) Repurposing of post-mining land. SUVIKALP is the Coal Controller Organisation's in-house Mine Repurposing Tool for selecting post-mining land repurposing projects (PIB, Ministry of Coal, 21 Oct 2026).
Source: PIB - Ministry of Coal (Release ID 2325820), 21 October 2026
