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25th October 2026 Current Affairs

Sunday · 8 news items · 8 MCQs

Pankaj Advani wins 29th world billiards title; ICC wins 2026 Sakharov Prize; MHA-Army launch pilot for 60,000-strong Civil Defence volunteer network

In this edition

  1. MHA and Indian Army launch pilot for 60,000-strong Civil Defence volunteer network
  2. France confirms first-ever human case and death from Shamonda virus
  3. International Criminal Court wins European Parliament's 2026 Sakharov Prize
  4. Sonowal inaugurates SMFCL office; maritime NBFC targets Rs 60,205 crore by FY31
  5. MoSPI proposes PLFS methodology changes effective January 2027
  6. Pankaj Advani wins 29th world title at World Billiards Championship
  7. C-DOT opens sixth Centre of Excellence at IIT (BHU), Varanasi
  8. Maharashtra launches 'Mission Murghas' to tackle drought fodder shortage
  9. Daily Current Affairs Quiz (8 questions)

📘 25th October 2026 Current Affairs Quiz

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

Take the Quiz ›
🛡️ Defence

MHA and Indian Army launch pilot for 60,000-strong Civil Defence volunteer network

Why in News?

The Ministry of Home Affairs, jointly with the Indian Army, launched the pilot phase of a nationwide Civil Defence network on 23 October 2026, aiming to train 60,000 volunteers across 12 states and Union Territories. The pilot follows PM Modi's Independence Day 2026 call for a "robust, responsive and future-ready" Civil Defence network. It will see 600 master trainers (50 per state/UT) trained at Army establishments by mid-November 2026, who will then cascade training to volunteers in their own states and UTs.

Key Highlights

  • MHA + Indian Army joint pilot, announced 23 Oct 2026
  • Target: 60,000 trained volunteers
  • 12 states/UTs covered
  • 600 master trainers (50 per state/UT) trained at Army establishments
  • Follows PM Modi's 15 Aug 2026 Independence Day speech

Static GK

  • The Civil Defence Act, 1968 is the legal framework for India's Civil Defence setup
  • Civil Defence functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs
  • The Directorate General of Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guards operates under the MHA
  • India's Independence Day is celebrated on 15 August from the Red Fort
🔬 Science

France confirms first-ever human case and death from Shamonda virus

Why in News?

French health authorities confirmed on 22 October 2026 that a patient had died at a hospital in Lyon after being infected with the Shamonda virus, an insect-borne orthobunyavirus previously known to infect only cattle. This marks the first-ever documented human case of the virus. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the patient was immunocompromised, making them more vulnerable to severe disease, and French authorities said there was no identifiable health risk to the general population.

Key Highlights

  • First-ever human case and death, confirmed 22 Oct 2026
  • Patient died at a hospital in Lyon, France
  • Patient was immunocompromised, says WHO chief
  • Spread by Culicoides biting midges; previously infected only cattle
  • French authorities report no identifiable risk to the general public

Static GK

  • Orthobunyaviruses are arthropod-borne viruses in the family Peribunyaviridae
  • Shamonda virus was first identified in Nigeria in the 1960s
  • WHO's current Director-General is Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
  • Biting midges of the genus Culicoides also transmit bluetongue disease in livestock
🌍 International

International Criminal Court wins European Parliament's 2026 Sakharov Prize

Why in News?

The European Parliament announced on 22 October 2026 that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has won its 2026 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, the EU's top human rights honour, ahead of finalists including Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu and Iranian sisters Taraneh and Romina Rahimi. The award carries symbolic weight given US sanctions on some ICC officials. The prize will be formally presented at a ceremony in the European Parliament's December 2026 plenary session.

Key Highlights

  • Announced 22 October 2026 by the European Parliament
  • EU's top human rights honour
  • Finalists: Tundu Lissu (Tanzania), Taraneh and Romina Rahimi (Iran)
  • ICC is under US sanctions on some officials
  • Formal award ceremony set for December 2026

Static GK

  • The Sakharov Prize is named after Soviet physicist and dissident Andrei Sakharov
  • The European Parliament has awarded the Sakharov Prize annually since 1988
  • The ICC, headquartered at The Hague, was established by the Rome Statute (1998; in force 2002)
  • Malala Yousafzai and Nelson Mandela are past Sakharov Prize laureates
📈 Economy

Sonowal inaugurates SMFCL office; maritime NBFC targets Rs 60,205 crore by FY31

Why in News?

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated the corporate office of Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited (SMFCL), India's first dedicated maritime-sector NBFC, in New Delhi on 23 October 2026. SMFCL, which had disbursed about Rs 5,107 crore as of 30 September 2026, aims for cumulative disbursements of Rs 60,205 crore by FY 2030-31 to support port-led development, shipbuilding and coastal connectivity, subject to equity support and RBI norms.

Key Highlights

  • Inaugurated by Sarbananda Sonowal, 23 Oct 2026, New Delhi
  • India's first dedicated maritime-sector NBFC
  • Target: Rs 60,205 crore cumulative disbursements by FY 2030-31
  • Rs 5,107 crore disbursed as of 30 September 2026
  • Funds port-led development, shipbuilding, coastal connectivity

Static GK

  • Sagarmala is the flagship port-led development programme of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, launched in 2015
  • NBFC stands for Non-Banking Financial Company, regulated by the RBI
  • Sarbananda Sonowal is the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, and of AYUSH
  • India has 12 major ports administered by the central government
📈 Economy

MoSPI proposes PLFS methodology changes effective January 2027

Why in News?

The National Statistics Office (NSO), under MoSPI, issued a press note on 23 October 2026 proposing changes to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) methodology effective January 2027. The changes include a fresh sampling frame for Panel 6 (2027-28), a new second-stage stratum to better capture digital platform (gig) workers, and new questions on unpaid household, caregiving and volunteer work. Public comments have been invited before the changes are finalised.

Key Highlights

  • MoSPI/NSO press note issued 23 October 2026
  • Changes effective from January 2027
  • New stratum to better capture digital platform (gig) workers
  • New questions on unpaid household and caregiving work
  • Fresh sampling frame for Panel 6 (2027-28)

Static GK

  • PLFS was first launched by the NSO in 2017-18 to provide more frequent labour market data
  • PLFS is conducted by the National Statistics Office under MoSPI
  • Key PLFS indicators include the Labour Force Participation Rate, Worker Population Ratio and Unemployment Rate
  • MoSPI stands for the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
🏆 Sports

Pankaj Advani wins 29th world title at World Billiards Championship

Why in News?

Cueist Pankaj Advani won his 29th career world title by beating England's Robert Hall 1,906-1,206 in the final of the WBL World Billiards Championship in England on 23 October 2026, regaining a crown he had first won in 2014 (also against Hall). Advani's highest break of the final was 587, the highest of this year's championship, and his next target is the IBSF World Snooker Championship in Indore in November.

Key Highlights

  • Won in England on 23 October 2026
  • Beat Robert Hall 1,906-1,206 in the final
  • 29th career world title overall
  • Regained a title first won in 2014
  • Highest break of the championship: 587

Static GK

  • Pankaj Advani is from Bengaluru and competes in both billiards and snooker
  • He has previously won world titles in both English Billiards (point and time formats) and snooker
  • The IBSF (International Billiards and Snooker Federation) governs amateur cue sports internationally
  • Advani has been honoured with the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna and the Padma Shri
💻 Technology

C-DOT opens sixth Centre of Excellence at IIT (BHU), Varanasi

Why in News?

The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) established its sixth Centre of Excellence at IIT (BHU), Varanasi, on 23 October 2026, signing an MoU for joint research, technology development and capacity building in next-generation telecom technologies. Focus areas include 5G-Advanced/6G, very large-scale MIMO, integrated sensing and communication, AI-native networks, and quantum and post-quantum communication. C-DOT already runs similar Centres of Excellence at IITs Kanpur, Gandhinagar, Roorkee and Hyderabad, and at IISc Bengaluru.

Key Highlights

  • MoU signed 23 October 2026
  • C-DOT's sixth Centre of Excellence
  • Located at IIT (BHU), Varanasi
  • Focus: 5G-Advanced/6G, AI-native networks, quantum/post-quantum communication
  • Other CoEs at IIT Kanpur, Gandhinagar, Roorkee, Hyderabad and IISc Bengaluru

Static GK

  • C-DOT (Centre for Development of Telematics) was established in 1984 under the Department of Telecommunications
  • IIT (BHU) Varanasi became an IIT in 2012, upgraded from the Institute of Technology, BHU
  • 5G services were commercially launched in India in October 2022
  • The Department of Telecommunications functions under the Ministry of Communications
📰 General

Maharashtra launches 'Mission Murghas' to tackle drought fodder shortage

Why in News?

Maharashtra's Animal Husbandry Department, under Commissioner Dr Kiran Patil, launched "Mission Murghas" around 24 October 2026 to help farmers convert green fodder into silage (murghas) using scientific methods, as drought was declared in over 300 talukas across the state. The campaign trains farmers in scientific harvesting, chaffing, compacting and airtight storage of fodder crops such as maize, jowar and Napier grass to secure livestock feed through the dry season.

Key Highlights

  • Launched around 24 October 2026
  • By Maharashtra's Animal Husbandry Department (Commissioner Dr Kiran Patil)
  • Converts green fodder into silage ('murghas')
  • Response to drought declared in 300+ talukas
  • Focus crops: maize, jowar, Napier grass

Static GK

  • Maharashtra's capital is Mumbai; its Chief Minister at the time of this digest is Devendra Fadnavis
  • 'Murghas' (silage) is fermented green fodder preserved to feed livestock during shortages
  • Krishi Vigyan Kendras and ICAR institutes commonly partner with states on agricultural extension
  • Maharashtra's Animal Husbandry Department functions under the state's Dairy Development and Animal Husbandry portfolio

📘 25th October 2026 Current Affairs Quiz

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

Take the Quiz ›