Current Affairs

Indian-origin British chess prodigy Bodhana Sivanandan became the youngest female player to earn the International Master (IM) title on October 23, 2026 (Friday). She is just 11 years, seven months and 16 days old. With this achievement, she has broken a 38-year-old record held by chess legend Judit Polgár since 1988. Bodhana achieved her final IM norm at the European Club Cup in Budva, Montenegro, when she defeated Swedish Woman International Master (WIM) Viktoria Johansson in the final round. Overall, Bodhana is the seventh-youngest player to earn the IM title.

Takeaway: Bodhana Sivanandan has several records to her name, such as the youngest Woman Grandmaster (WGM), the youngest Woman International Master (WIM) and the youngest Woman FIDE Master (WFM) in chess history.

Indian cueist Pankaj Advani won his 29th career world title at the WBL World Billiards Championships on October 23, 2026 (Friday). He defeated England’s Robert Hall 1,906–1,206 in the final played in Great Wyrley, England. The five-hour match witnessed Advani recover from a deficit of more than 300 points by curating a memorable break of 587. It was the highest break of the championship this year. Advani’s victory was his 21st world championship title in billiards. In the women’s event, India’s Shruthi L defended her title for the third consecutive year by defeating Sweden’s Eva Palmius 414–153.

Takeaway: Pankaj Advani is the recipient of India's prestigious civilian and sports awards, including the Arjuna Award (2004), Padma Shri (2009), and Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award (2005).

Lieutenant Governor (LG) Shri Vinai Kumar Saxena declared Ladakh India’s first 100% organic Union Territory on October 25, 2026 (Sunday). The transition to organic farming was carried out in phases across the Leh and Kargil districts. Beginning in March 2026, the administration distributed organic fertilisers to villages to help farmers switch to organic farming before the sowing season. In July, the LG imposed a complete ban on the procurement, sale, distribution, marketing and use of chemical and synthetic fertilisers. The initiative included certification and field-level monitoring to protect Ladakh’s fragile environment. In India, the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) sets standards for organic farming and accredits certification bodies.

Takeaway: Sikkim became India’s first fully organic state in 2016.

The Mysuru Dasara Drone Show, conducted on the night of October 18, 2026 (Sunday) at the Torchlight Parade Ground in Bannimantap, Mysuru, set a Guinness World Record. During the aerial show, 3,473 drones were used to create a giant dancing peacock, India's national bird. The display set a record for the largest aerial display of a bird formed by drones or multirotors. The show was organised by Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (CESC) and performed by BotLab Dynamics, a company incubated at IIT Delhi.

Takeaway: Mysuru Dasara 2026 was celebrated from October 11 to October 21, 2026, as Karnataka’s grand state festival. It concluded on Vijayadashami.

India recorded its best-ever performance at the 2026 Asian Para Games, which concluded on October 24, 2026 (Saturday), in Nagoya, Japan. The Indian contingent finished fourth in the medal tally, winning a record 114 medals, including 30 Gold, 35 Silver, and 49 Bronze. Para-athletics was India’s biggest medal contributor, with 65, followed by para-badminton with 16. Para-archer Sheetal Devi, para-athlete Nishad Kumar and para-shooter Mona Agarwal were among the standout performers, each securing two gold medals. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President P. T. Usha congratulated the athletes on their historic achievement.

Takeaway: India’s medal tally at the Asian Para Games grew more than eightfold from 14 medals in 2010 to a record 114 medals in 2026.

National Geographic released its annual “Best of the World 2027” list on October 20, 2026 (Tuesday). Curated by its writers, photographers and explorers, the list features 25 destinations across six continents, including Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan. The magazine highlighted Amber Fort and Jaigarh Fort as key places to visit. Other important landmarks in Jaipur include Hawa Mahal and Jantar Mantar. The list selects destinations based on factors such as new openings, cultural revival and milestone celebrations. Jaipur’s inclusion for 2027 is linked to its 300th anniversary and cultural events, including the Jaipur Literature Festival.

Takeaway: The 20th edition of Jaipur Literature Festival is scheduled to be held from January 14 to 18, 2027. Nearly 400,000 people are likely to attend this one of the world’s largest literary festivals.

As part of celebrations marking its 94th anniversary, the Indian Air Force (IAF) held the ‘Wings Over Ganges’ aerial display at Namo Ghat in Varanasi on October 22, 24 and 25, 2026. At the finale, on October 25, 2026 (Sunday), nearly 100 aircraft from 12 bases flew over the Ganga with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in attendance. Organised by the Central Air Command, it was the first IAF aerial show over the Ganga in Varanasi, the Prime Minister’s constituency. The finale was also attended by Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh, Uttar Pradesh Governor Smt. Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister Shri Yogi Adityanath and Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh. The main ceremonial event for the IAF’s 94th anniversary was held on October 8, 2026, at Air Force Station Hindan in Ghaziabad.

Takeaway: Indian Air Force Day is observed on October 8 every year to mark the establishment of the Indian Air Force on October 8, 1932.

Arshi Gupta, India’s youngest national karting champion, won the Mini Max category at the FMSCI RMC India National Karting Championship 2026, held in Bengaluru on October 18, 2026 (Sunday). With this victory, she became the world’s youngest driver to win the Rotax MAX Challenge (RMC) Mini title. In 2025, she won the Micro Max title, making her one of the few drivers to win two Rotax MAX Challenge categories in consecutive years. Arshi, who hails from Faridabad, is also the youngest driver in the world to be selected for the F1 Academy Discover Your Drive programme. She is the recipient of the FIA President’s Medal and finished on the podium in racing events in the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.

Takeaway: Arshi Gupta won the Micro Max title in 2025 and the Mini Max title in 2026, claiming victories in two Rotax MAX Challenge categories in consecutive years.

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) India has launched a nationwide Green Diwali Campaign 2026 to encourage people to celebrate a clean, cracker-free Diwali. The campaign will run from October 20 (Tuesday) to November 8, 2026 (Sunday). The campaign was launched by WWF-India’s EIACP Programme Centre–Resource Partner, with support from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. It aims to reach schools, colleges, educational institutions, resident welfare associations and local communities across the country. The campaign will focus especially on the 130 cities covered under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP).

Takeaway: Established in 1969, WWF-India is a conservation organisation that works to protect nature and wildlife.

The Viksit Bharat Buildathon 2025 entered the Guinness World Records as the “Largest Innovation Solution Competition” after receiving 2,87,967 project submissions from across India, the Ministry of Education announced on October 27, 2026 (Tuesday). Ten winning teams and student innovators were felicitated by Minister of State for Education Shri Jayant Chaudhary at a ceremony in New Delhi on October 28, 2026 (Wednesday). Their ideas and models were also displayed on the occasion. The initiative was organised by the Department of School Education and Literacy in collaboration with the Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).

Takeaway: Viksit Bharat Buildathon 2025 is India's largest-ever school innovation hackathon for students in Classes 6 to 12. It aimed to engage more than one crore students from 1.5 lakh schools across India.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, on October 27, 2026 (Tuesday), inaugurated the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. Delivering the inaugural address, PM Modi praised the confidence and creativity of India’s youth and encouraged them to develop innovative technologies. He also highlighted the country’s milestones, including developing Made-in-India COVID-19 vaccines, reaching Mars on its first attempt and landing near the Moon’s South Pole. The conclave was held from October 27 to October 29, 2026. Three Nobel Laureates – Prof. Joachim Frank, Sir Richard J. Roberts, and Prof. Kostya Novoselov – were among the keynote speakers. Global scientists, industry leaders, and policymakers also attended the three-day event.

Takeaway: In 2014, India became the world’s first country to successfully place a spacecraft in Mars orbit on its very first attempt. Overall, ISRO is the fourth space agency to reach Mars orbit.

Anil Menon, a NASA astronaut of Indian origin, completed the fourth spacewalk of his career on October 29, 2026 (Thursday), alongside Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Joshua Kutryk, outside the International Space Station (ISS). The spacewalk lasted for 7 hours and 11 minutes, during which the astronauts installed the seventh of eight new Roll-Out Solar Arrays (iROSAs) to upgrade the power system of the ISS. It was also the 100th US spacewalk conducted from the ISS without a Space Shuttle docked to the station. After this spacewalk, Menon’s total spacewalking time has reached 26 hours and 31 minutes. On the other hand, it was the first spacewalk for Kutryk, who became the fifth Canadian astronaut to perform extravehicular activity (EVA). Their next spacewalk is slated for November 5, 2026.

Takeaway: Sunita Williams holds the record for the most spacewalks by an Indian-origin astronaut, with nine career spacewalks. Anil Menon is in second position with four walks.

Indian-origin pilot Captain Smit Machchhar received the First-Class Order of Zayed II – one of the UAE's highest civilian honour – on October 27, 2026 (Tuesday). He was recognised for his bravery and professionalism in protecting 174 passengers during an in-flight cockpit assault on Flydubai Flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30, 2026. Other members of the flydubai crew were also awarded for their actions. The award was conferred by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and presented by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Notably, Captain Machchhar is the third Indian recipient of the First-Class Order of Zayed II. Former Indian ambassadors Navdeep Singh Suri and Sunjay Sudhir received it in 2019 and 2025, respectively.

Takeaway: Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is the Crown Prince of Dubai. He also serves as the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the United Arab Emirates.

The Bihar Museum in Patna has ranked ninth in the world and first in Asia on the World’s 100 Best Museums List 2026. It is the only museum from India to feature in the list, published by the international travel guide Worth a Journey. Mexico City’s Museo Nacional de Antropología claimed the first position, while New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art secured the tenth position. The rankings were released in the last week of October 2026. Bihar Museum, located on Patna's Bailey Road, houses magnificent collections of historical artefacts, sculptures, coins, manuscripts and folk art.

Takeaway: The Bihar Museum is a state museum situated in Patna, Bihar. It was inaugurated in 2015.

Indian wrestler Manisha Bhanwala won gold in the women's 59 kg freestyle category at the 2026 Senior World Wrestling Championships held in Astana, defeating Abigail Nette 8–6 in a historic final on October 30, 2026 (Friday). On October 28, Kajal Dhochak and Neelam Sirohi won silver medals in the women's 76 kg and 50 kg categories, respectively. Neelam lost to Japan's five-time world champion Yui Susaki in the 50 kg final after trailing 0–5 and was defeated by fall. Kajal lost 6–8 to Ukraine's Anastasiya Alpyeyeva in the 76 kg final. With this achievement, Kajal and Neelam became the first two Indian women to reach the finals in the same edition of the Senior World Championships.

Takeaway: Kajal Dhochak became the first Indian heavyweight wrestler in the 76 kg category to win a medal at the Senior World Wrestling Championships.