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22nd October 2026 Current Affairs

Thursday · 8 news items · 8 MCQs

Jaishankar and Rubio hold trade talks in Mumbai; India climbs to 5th at Asian Para Games with 62 medals; Amit Shah to launch Rs 8,941-crore Delhi sewerage projects

In this edition

  1. Amit Shah to launch Rs 8,941-crore Delhi sewerage projects
  2. Rajnath Singh announces India to host first SCO Civilisational Dialogue Forum
  3. Jaishankar holds trade-focused talks with US Secretary of State Rubio in Mumbai
  4. JP Nadda inaugurates 14th India Chem 2026 in Mumbai
  5. 1 Finance gets SEBI in-principle nod for India's first MF Lite AMC
  6. India climbs to 5th at Asian Para Games 2026 with 62 medals after Day 3
  7. Sheetal Devi equals archery world record, wins doubles silver with Payal Nag
  8. Japan's JAXA launches MMX mission to collect samples from Mars moon Phobos
  9. Daily Current Affairs Quiz (8 questions)

📘 22nd October 2026 Current Affairs Quiz

8 questions · attempt all, submit, then see your score and the solutions

Take the Quiz ›
🌿 Environment

Amit Shah to launch Rs 8,941-crore Delhi sewerage projects

Why in News?

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to inaugurate and lay foundation stones for 43 Delhi Jal Board sewerage infrastructure projects worth about Rs 8,941 crore on 22 October 2026 at Najafgarh, aimed at cleaning the Yamuna at its source. The package includes a new 124-MGD sewage treatment plant at Okhla, upgrades to eight existing STPs raising capacity from 78.2 to 140.8 MGD, 29 new decentralised STPs and pumping stations in outer Delhi, and about 1,034 km of new sewer lines, expected to benefit lakhs of residents in unauthorised colonies and villages.

Key Highlights

  • Amit Shah, Union Home Minister
  • 22 October 2026, Najafgarh, Delhi
  • Rs 8,941 crore for 43 Delhi Jal Board projects
  • 124-MGD Okhla STP; 29 new DSTPs
  • 1,034 km new sewer network

Static GK

  • Delhi Jal Board was constituted under the Delhi Water Board Act, 1998.
  • The Yamuna, a tributary of the Ganga, originates from the Yamunotri Glacier in Uttarakhand.
  • MGD (Million Gallons per Day) is a standard unit for water/sewage treatment plant capacity.
  • AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation) is the central scheme supporting urban water and sewerage infrastructure.
🌍 International

Rajnath Singh announces India to host first SCO Civilisational Dialogue Forum

Why in News?

At the 25th SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan on 20 October 2026, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced that India will host the first-ever SCO Civilisational Dialogue Forum at the end of 2026, an idea PM Modi first proposed at the 2025 Tianjin summit to showcase the shared heritage of SCO member civilisations. He also called for unified action against terrorism, cited PM Modi's three pillars for the SCO (security, connectivity, opportunity), and highlighted India's global initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance and Mission LiFE. The meeting adopted the Joint Communique, the SCO's 2027 budget, and the PMTEC Action Plan for 2026-2030.

Key Highlights

  • Rajnath Singh, Defence Minister
  • 25th SCO Council of Heads of Government, Dushanbe, 20 October 2026
  • First SCO Civilisational Dialogue Forum to be held in India, end-2026
  • Idea proposed by PM Modi at the 2025 Tianjin summit
  • Meeting adopted Joint Communique and SCO 2027 budget

Static GK

  • The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) was founded in 2001 in Shanghai.
  • India became a full SCO member in 2017, along with Pakistan.
  • The SCO's permanent secretariat is located in Beijing.
  • The SCO's six founding members were China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
🌍 International

Jaishankar holds trade-focused talks with US Secretary of State Rubio in Mumbai

Why in News?

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Mumbai on 20 October 2026, in his second visit to India in five months, to review the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. Rubio said the proposed free trade agreement was nearly finalised with only a small number of issues left to resolve. The talks also covered energy security, with Rubio urging India to buy more American and Venezuelan oil for Reliance's Jamnagar refinery, besides defence and critical and emerging technology cooperation; both sides reaffirmed commitment to fighting terrorism.

Key Highlights

  • S Jaishankar and Marco Rubio
  • Mumbai, 20 October 2026
  • India-US free trade agreement described as 'nearly done'
  • Energy, defence and technology also on agenda
  • Rubio's second India visit in five months

Static GK

  • S Jaishankar has been India's External Affairs Minister since May 2019.
  • Marco Rubio is the US Secretary of State in the Trump administration.
  • India-US ties are officially termed a 'Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership.'
  • Reliance's Jamnagar refinery in Gujarat is the world's largest single-location oil refining complex.
📈 Economy

JP Nadda inaugurates 14th India Chem 2026 in Mumbai

Why in News?

Union Minister JP Nadda inaugurated the 14th edition of India Chem 2026 at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai, on 22 October 2026, under the theme 'Advantage Bharat: An Emerging Global Chemicals Hub.' The three-day flagship event of the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, organised in partnership with FICCI, drew participants from over 100 countries with Japan as partner country, over 200 exhibitors and more than 8,000 business visitors, as India's chemicals industry, currently the world's sixth-largest, targets USD 300 billion by 2030 and USD 1 trillion by 2040.

Key Highlights

  • JP Nadda inaugurates, 22 October 2026
  • Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai
  • 14th edition; theme 'Advantage Bharat'
  • 100+ countries; Japan is partner country
  • Industry target: USD 1 trillion by 2040

Static GK

  • The Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals functions under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers.
  • FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry) was established in 1927.
  • India Chem is a biennial flagship event; its 13th edition was held in 2024.
  • India is currently the world's sixth-largest chemicals producer and Asia's fourth-largest.
📈 Economy

1 Finance gets SEBI in-principle nod for India's first MF Lite AMC

Why in News?

SEBI granted Mumbai-based fintech firm 1 Finance in-principle approval to set up India's first asset management company under the 'MF Lite' framework, reported on 21 October 2026. The MF Lite framework, introduced by SEBI to ease entry for passive-only fund houses, will let 1 Finance offer low-cost products such as index funds and ETFs. The company, co-founded by Jeet Marwadi and Keval Bhanushali and already advising on over Rs 17,000 crore in assets, is targeting a launch in Q4 FY27 pending final SEBI registration.

Key Highlights

  • 1 Finance, Mumbai-based fintech firm
  • SEBI in-principle approval, reported 21 October 2026
  • First AMC approved under the MF Lite framework
  • Over Rs 17,000 crore in assets under advice
  • Launch targeted for Q4 FY27

Static GK

  • SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) was established in 1988 and given statutory powers in 1992.
  • Mutual funds in India are regulated under the SEBI (Mutual Funds) Regulations, 1996.
  • An Asset Management Company (AMC) manages a mutual fund's investment portfolio on behalf of unit-holders.
  • SEBI's head office is located in Mumbai.
🏆 Sports

India climbs to 5th at Asian Para Games 2026 with 62 medals after Day 3

Why in News?

India closed Day 3 (21 October 2026) of the Asian Para Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, with 62 medals in all (14 gold, 22 silver, 26 bronze), its best single-day haul of the Games so far, rising to fifth place in the overall standings. Sachin Khilari won the shot put F46 gold with a Games Record of 15.79m in a clean sweep with Mohd Yasser (silver) and Praveen (bronze), while defending champion Praveen Kumar won the high jump T44 gold with a Games Record of 2.05m.

Key Highlights

  • Aichi-Nagoya, Japan; Day 3, 21 October 2026
  • India: 62 medals (14 gold, 22 silver, 26 bronze), rank 5th
  • Sachin Khilari: Games Record, shot put F46 (15.79m)
  • Praveen Kumar: Games Record, high jump T44 (2.05m)
  • India's best single-day medal haul of the Games so far

Static GK

  • The Asian Para Games is organised by the Asian Paralympic Committee, held every four years after the Asian Games.
  • The first Asian Para Games was held in Guangzhou, China, in 2010.
  • India recorded its best-ever Asian Para Games medal count (111 medals) at Hangzhou 2022.
  • Para athletics events are classified by disability category, denoted T for track and F for field events.
🏆 Sports

Sheetal Devi equals archery world record, wins doubles silver with Payal Nag

Why in News?

Armless archer Sheetal Devi equalled the women's compound world record of 704 points in the ranking round at the Asian Para Games 2026 archery event, matching Turkiye's Oznur Cure Girdi's Paris 2024 Paralympic mark and setting a new Asian record, six points above her own previous Asian mark. She and Payal Nag, who topped doubles qualification, went on to win silver in the Para Compound Women's Doubles, losing 141-150 to China's Xu Xueqing and Zhao Jing in the final.

Key Highlights

  • Sheetal Devi, armless compound archer
  • Scored 704 points, equalling the world record
  • New Asian record (previous best: 698)
  • Doubles silver with Payal Nag, lost 141-150 to China in final
  • Asian Para Games 2026, Aichi-Nagoya, Japan

Static GK

  • Sheetal Devi, born in Jammu and Kashmir without arms, became the youngest Indian Paralympic medallist at Paris 2024.
  • A compound bow uses a system of cams and pulleys, unlike the recurve bow used in Olympic archery.
  • The Archery Association of India is the sport's national governing body.
  • Sheetal Devi won the women's individual compound world archery title in 2025.
🔬 Science

Japan's JAXA launches MMX mission to collect samples from Mars moon Phobos

Why in News?

Japan's space agency JAXA launched its Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) spacecraft on an H3 rocket from the Tanegashima Space Center on 19 October 2026, aiming to become the first mission to return samples from a moon of Mars. MMX will reach Mars in August 2027, collect at least 10 grams of material from Phobos, and return to Earth in 2031, carrying the French-German IDEFIX rover for deployment on Phobos in early 2029, with international support from NASA, ESA, CNES and DLR.

Key Highlights

  • JAXA's MMX (Martian Moons eXploration) mission
  • Launched 19 October 2026, H3 rocket, Tanegashima Space Center
  • Target: Phobos, a moon of Mars
  • Reaches Mars August 2027; returns to Earth 2031
  • Carries the French-German IDEFIX rover

Static GK

  • JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) was formed in 2003.
  • Mars has two moons: Phobos and Deimos.
  • Japan's earlier Hayabusa2 mission returned asteroid samples from Ryugu to Earth in 2020.
  • ISRO's Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan), launched in 2013, made India the first Asian nation to reach Mars orbit.

📘 22nd October 2026 Current Affairs Quiz

8 questions · attempt all, submit, then see your score and the solutions

Take the Quiz ›