(20 – Oct – 26)
- Dussehra and UNESCO-
- Both Dussehra and Navaratri are celebrated along with some very unique forms of culture of India, which include Ramlila plays, Durga Puja in Kolkata and the festival of Garba in Gujarat. This involves religious activities as well as theatre, music, dance, craft and community participation. Such cultural
practices have been included by UNESCO in its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in order to preserve their cultural significance and also because of the necessity of keeping the traditions of the past alive for the generations to come.
UNESCO and Intangible Cultural Heritage: What Is the Meaning of Inscription?
- UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity consists of elements which are regarded by communities as an integral part of their cultural heritage. Such elements include performance arts, festivities, rituals, traditional crafts and various forms of oral expression.
- In contrast to such objects as historical monuments and archaeological sites, intangible cultural heritage needs continuous practice and transmission from one generation to another. It exists because there are people who continue practicing and adapting traditions within the community.
- Para Asian Games 2026: Mona Agarwal Wins Gold, Avani Lekhara Takes Silver-
- India began their medal haul at the 2026 Para Asian Games held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, as the Indian athletes finished first and second in the women’s 10m air rifle category. Mona Agarwal won the gold medal after scoring 250 points, thus breaking an Asian Para Games record, while Tokyo and Paris Paralympian Avani Lekhara clinched the silver medal with 249.6 points. Mona also scored 629.1 points in the
qualification round, thereby setting another Asian Para Games qualification record.
Mona Agarwal Secures Gold Medal with a New Asian Para Games Record
- Indian para-shooter Mona Agarwal claimed the gold medal in the women’s 10m air rifle event with a total score of 250 points. She broke an Asian Para Games record in this event with this score, beating the previous record of 249.6 by Avani Lekhara.
- Mona Agarwal had also secured the top position in the qualification round with 629.1 points, which was another new record for the Asian Para Games. This was a great improvement for Mona who had finished sixth at the 2022 Asian Para Games.
Avani Lekhara Takes Home Silver and Book LA28 Paralympics Quota
- Avani Lekhara bagged the silver medal in the women’s 10m air rifle event with a score of 249.6 points.
- This victory of Avani also ensured that she booked a quota place for India at the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games (LA28). As per the report, a quota place had been secured by Mona at the World Championships.
- Global Hunger Index 2026: India Ranks 100th Among 122 Countries-
- India is ranked 100 out of 122 countries in the Global Hunger Index (GHI)
2026 with a score of 24.1, whereas Pakistan stands 106th with 25.5. Both countries belong to the category of serious hunger. The report has been launched on the theme “No Security Without Food Security” and has reported a global hunger score of 18.1 with the warning that there is a slowdown in achieving the SDG of Zero Hunger by 2030 due to conflict, climate change and increasing food prices.
What Is the Global Hunger Index 2026?
- The Global Hunger Index is an annual study and measurement of the hunger situation in various countries and regions around the world. The purpose of the index is to measure and compare hunger and to draw attention to the extent of hunger and to the need for action.
- The 2026 report has been published by Welthungerhilfe (WHH), the Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict (IFHV) at Ruhr University Bochum, and Helvetas. The theme of the report is “No Security Without Food Security”.
- The GHI scores range from 0 to 100, where lower scores show lower hunger levels, and higher scores show more severe hunger.
India’s Ranking in the Global Hunger Index 2026
- India is ranked 100th out of 122 countries, having a GHI score of 24.1. The hunger situation in India continues to be in the serious state, but there is an observation of long-term progress in child stunting.
The key indicators for India are the,
- Child stunting: 29.3% among children below the five years of age.
- Child wasting: Nearly 19%, which is the highest percentage worldwide.
- Undernourishment: It is an indicator of the proportion of people who cannot meet their dietary energy requirements.
- Under-five mortality rate: 2.7%-2.9%, according to the report summary provided.
- Limoges Town Hall, France-
- On the 17th of October 2026, the old town hall of Limoges caught fire in the midst of the riots taking place throughout France. According to the local authorities, this incident was a premeditated one and it resulted in to the major damage being inflicted on the roof and the main building. The famous clock tower of this landmark came down, but it appears that parts of the building were spared, including the west wing of the structure. Further investigations into the damages caused need to be made.
- The riots broke out across France owing to the high cost of living, public services, and education. While most protests were peaceful, there have been violent outbreaks in other towns, and public buildings became the targets of such actions.
History of the Limoges Town Hall
- The Hôtel de Ville de Limoges, otherwise known as the Limoges Town Hall, is an historical civic building located in Limoges, in the Haute-Vienne department of southwestern France.
- The construction of the building began in 1879 and was opened to the public on 14th July 1883.
- The town engaged renowned architect Charles-Alfred Leclerc, who won the Grand Prix de Rome and was formerly the chief architect at the Palace of Versailles for designing the building. This project took place shortly after the demise of a local resident, Alfred Fournier, who bequeathed his wealth to the city in 1875.
- ISRO Successfully Completes Crew Module–Service Module Separation Tests for Gaganyaan –
- ISRO successfully carried out a series of CM-SM separation tests of its upcoming Gaganyaan human spaceflight program on October 16, 2026. The tests were conducted at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Center (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, in order to test the separation mechanism and
its tolerance to the mechanical shocks related to it. The tests increase confidence in critical spacecraft mechanisms prior to the first uncrewed flight of the Gaganyaan programme, G1, slated to be launched in 2026.
What Is the Gaganyaan Mission?
- Gaganyaan is the human spaceflight program of India aimed to prove the capability of sending Indian astronauts into low Earth orbit and returning them back to Earth.
- Gaganyaan is being developed by ISRO with an emphasis on human-rated launch vehicles, crew safety, life support systems and spacecraft navigation and recovery operations.
- G1 is going to be the first uncrewed flight to test critical systems before sending humans to orbit. The successful completion of the CM-SM separation tests is one of the steps towards that goal.
MCQ Quiz
Q1. Janakikkad forest, recently in the news for the sighting of the Spot-bellied Eagle-Owl, is located in which state?
a) Andhra Pradesh
b) Tamil Nadu
c) Kerala
d) Karnataka
Q2. Which country is the host of the World Health Summit 2026?
a) France
b) Germany
c) Switzerland
d) Austria
Q3.What is rank of India in the Global Hunger Index 2026?
a) 95th
b) 100th
c) 105th
d) 110th
Q4. Consider the following statements regarding the Henley Passport Index (October 2026 edition):
- India is ranked 84th globally, sharing the position with Algeria and Mauritania.
- The index is compiled using exclusive data provided by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
- A country’s rank can improve even if the total number of visa-free destinations accessible to its passport holders decreases.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 1 and 3 only
c) 2 and 3 only
d) 1, 2, and 3
Explanation-
- Statement 1 is correct: In the October 2026 edition of the Henley Passport Index, India is ranked 84th and shares this position with Algeria and Mauritania.
- Statement 2 is correct: The index relies on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which tracks entry requirements for 227 travel destinations across 199 passports.
- Statement 3 is correct: India’s rank improved from 85th (October 2025) to 84th (October 2026), yet the number of destinations accessible without a prior visa actually dropped from 57 to 55. This happens because the ranking is relative; a country can move up if other nations lose access or see their scores decline.
Q5. With reference to the Special Summary Revision (SSR) of electoral rolls in India, consider the following statements:
1. The qualifying date for the SSR 2026 exercise is January 1, 2027, which determines the eligibility of citizens for inclusion in the electoral roll based on age and other legal requirements.
2. Under the SSR process, every existing elector is necessarily required to submit fresh documentary proof of citizenship and residence.
3. Form 6 is used for the inclusion of a new eligible elector, while Form 8 is used for correction of electoral-roll entries and shifting of residence.
4. Article 324 of the Constitution vests the superintendence, direction and control of elections in the Election Commission of India (ECI).
Which of the statements given above are correct?
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 1,3 and 4 only
c) 1, 2 and 3 only
d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Explanation-
- Statement 1 — Correct. The qualifying date determines whether an applicant satisfies the minimum age requirement of 18 years and other applicable conditions for registration. A person who turns 18 on January 1, 2027, may qualify on that date, subject to the applicable electoral-registration rules.
- Statement 2 — Incorrect. SSR is generally an exercise to update existing electoral rolls through claims, objections and verification. It does not automatically require every existing elector to submit fresh documentary proof of citizenship and residence. Do not confuse this with the more intensive enumeration process associated with SIR.
- Statement 3 — Correct. The relevant forms are:
- Form 6: Inclusion of a new elector.
- Form 8: Correction of entries, shifting of residence and other prescribed updates.
- Form 7 is used for seeking deletion of an entry or objecting to the inclusion of an entry, subject to the applicable procedure.
- Statement 4 — Correct. Article 324 of the Constitution provides for the ECI’s superintendence, direction and control of elections. The preparation and revision of electoral rolls are also governed by statutory provisions, notably the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.