Daily Current Affairs — 23 October 2026
· 16 min read · TS Police Hub (Anvil Edtech)
Polish PM Donald Tusk's India visit — trade-doubling target, Poland joins CDRI, invitation to IPOI; UNEP Emissions Gap Report 2026 'The Point of Return'; 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum at Samvidhan Sadan, New Delhi; International Day of the Snow Leopard with India's SPAI figures; Kashi Tamil Sangamam 5.0 on the Thirukkural; ICC wins the 2026 Sakharov Prize; Sunil Kumar named next ONGC Chairman; inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship in Ahmedabad; France reports the first known human case of Shamonda virus; the four-nation 'Badr' defence-industry MoU signed in Doha. Followed by 10 practice questions.
1. International Relations
Polish PM Donald Tusk Visits India — Trade-Doubling Target, Poland Joins CDRI, Invitation to IPOI
Why in news: Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk made an official visit to India from 21 to 23 October 2026 with a delegation of about 100 business leaders. He held talks with the Prime Minister at Hyderabad House, New Delhi, on 22 October 2026, and the two sides issued a joint statement.
⭐ Exam importance: High — bilateral visits, trade targets and India-led groupings (CDRI, IPOI, ISA) are regular prelims questions; the India–EU FTA status is a frequent trap.
Key facts
- Trade target: Bilateral trade is about USD 6.3 billion; both sides aim to double it to over USD 12 billion by 2030.
- Strategic sectors: Agreed to deepen ties in defence, space and nuclear energy; Polish companies invited to co-develop and co-produce in India.
- Priority areas: Cybersecurity, rare-earth processing and battery recycling; cooperation to be explored in critical minerals, semiconductors and quantum technologies.
- Four outcomes: Trade-doubling target by 2030; Poland joining the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI); a Defence Industry Dialogue; and a dialogue on counter-terrorism.
- IPOI: India invited Poland to join the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI).
- India–EU FTA: The joint statement welcomed the conclusion of the India–EU Free Trade Agreement and called for its early signing and implementation — it is not yet in force.
- Background: India–Poland ties were raised to a Strategic Partnership in August 2024, with a Joint Action Plan for 2024–2028.
Status of India's major trade agreements| Agreement | Status |
|---|
| India–EU FTA | Negotiations concluded at the 16th India–EU Summit, New Delhi, 27 January 2026; signing and ratification pending |
| India–UK CETA | In force from 15 July 2026 |
| India–EFTA TEPA | In force from 1 October 2025 |
| India–Australia ECTA | In force from 29 December 2022 |
Static GK link
- Poland: Capital Warsaw; currency złoty; member of NATO (1999) and the European Union (2004). The EU has 27 member States.
- CDRI: Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure — launched by India at the UN Climate Action Summit, New York, in September 2019; Secretariat in New Delhi; its website lists 72 members (countries and organisations).
- IPOI: Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative — announced by India at the East Asia Summit, Bangkok, in November 2019; built on seven pillars such as maritime security, maritime ecology and disaster risk reduction.
- India–EU Summit 2026: 16th summit, New Delhi, 27 January 2026: FTA talks concluded and the India–EU Security and Defence Partnership was signed — the first such overarching defence framework between the two sides.
2. Environment & Climate
UNEP Emissions Gap Report 2026 — 'The Point of Return': 1.5°C Will Be Overshot
Why in news: The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) released the Emissions Gap Report 2026, titled 'The Point of Return', on 21 October 2026. It finds that limiting warming to 1.5°C with no or limited overshoot is no longer possible.
⭐ Exam importance: High — UNEP reports, the Paris Agreement temperature goals and NDCs are core environment topics in both SI and Constable papers.
Key facts
- Edition: 17th edition of the annual report, published every year since 2010; it measures the gap between the emission cuts needed and those promised.
- Lowest-overshoot pathway: Compared with 2025, global greenhouse gas emissions must fall 18% by 2030, 45% by 2035 and 69% by 2040 — about 5.7% a year in 2025–2035.
- Result of that pathway: Peak warming of about 1.7–1.8°C around mid-century, falling back to 1.5°C or below by 2100 (about a 50% chance).
- Current pledges: Full implementation of NDCs cuts emissions only 5–8% by 2030 and 11–15% by 2035 (vs 2025), pointing to about 2.6°C; current policies lead to about 2.8°C by 2100.
- Why worse: UNEP cites the United States' withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and revised estimates of historical emissions.
Static GK link
- UNEP: Set up in 1972 after the UN Conference on the Human Environment, Stockholm; headquarters Nairobi, Kenya.
- Paris Agreement: Adopted at COP21 in 2015, in force from 4 November 2016; goal — hold warming 'well below 2°C' and pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
- NDC: Nationally Determined Contributions — each country's own climate pledge under the Paris Agreement, updated every five years.
3. Parliament & Multilateral Groupings
12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum at Samvidhan Sadan, New Delhi (26–27 October 2026)
Why in news: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla announced on 22 October 2026 that India will host the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum on 26–27 October 2026 in the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan, New Delhi. The Prime Minister is expected to attend.
⭐ Exam importance: High — India holds the BRICS chair in 2026; BRICS members, summits and the New Development Bank are standard questions.
Key facts
- Theme: 'Strengthening Parliaments for People-Centric Development' (as reported; wording varies slightly across reports).
- Chair: India received the chairmanship at the 11th Forum in Brasília, Brazil (June 2025); Speaker Om Birla was named its Chairperson.
- Four sessions: Institutional resilience; human-centred innovation in AI and digital technologies; parliamentary cooperation for more representative global governance; sustainable and inclusive development.
- Joint statement: A meeting of delegation secretaries on 25 October 2026 is to finalise the Forum's joint statement.
- Absent: Reports say the Speakers of Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia will not participate.
How BRICS grew| Year | Members |
|---|
| 2009 | BRIC — Brazil, Russia, India, China (first summit, Yekaterinburg) |
| 2010–11 | South Africa joins → BRICS |
| 2024 | Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, UAE join (1 January 2024) |
| 2025 | Indonesia joins (January 2025) |
| Saudi Arabia | Invited in 2023; has not formally confirmed full membership — status ambiguous |
Static GK link
- 18th BRICS Summit: Hosted by India at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, 12–13 September 2026; theme built on BRICS — 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability'.
- Partner countries: A 'partner country' tier was created at the Kazan Summit (Russia) in 2024 — partners are not full members.
- New Development Bank: Agreed at the Fortaleza Summit (Brazil) in 2014; headquarters Shanghai, China.
- Samvidhan Sadan: The name given to the old Parliament building after Parliament moved to the new building in 2023.
4. Wildlife & Days
International Day of the Snow Leopard — 23 October
Why in news: 23 October 2026 was observed as the International Day of the Snow Leopard. The day, long marked by range countries since 2013, was formally proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 2024 on an initiative of Kyrgyzstan.
⭐ Exam importance: High — India's SPAI state-wise figures, IUCN status and range countries are favourite wildlife questions.
Key facts
- Species: Snow leopard (Panthera uncia); IUCN Red List — Vulnerable; Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972; CITES Appendix I.
- 12 range countries: Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
- Why 23 October: The Bishkek Declaration was adopted on 23 October 2013 at the Global Snow Leopard Conservation Forum in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (not an SCO summit); the 12 countries also endorsed the Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Program (GSLEP).
- Largest share: China holds the largest share of the snow leopard's range and population.
- Hemis National Park: Ladakh; a 2025 study reported about 2.07 snow leopards per 100 sq km here — among the highest densities recorded anywhere.
Snow Leopard Population Assessment in India (SPAI), released January 2024 — total 718| State / UT | Estimate |
|---|
| Ladakh | 477 |
| Uttarakhand | 124 |
| Himachal Pradesh | 51 |
| Arunachal Pradesh | 36 |
| Sikkim | 21 |
| Jammu & Kashmir | 9 |
Static GK link
- SPAI: First scientific national estimate (survey 2019–2023), coordinated by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun.
- Project Snow Leopard: Launched by India in 2009 for the Himalayan high-altitude landscape.
- State animal: Snow leopard is the state animal of Himachal Pradesh and of the Union Territory of Ladakh.
5. Art & Culture
Kashi Tamil Sangamam 5.0 (28 November – 12 December 2026) — Theme on the Thirukkural
Why in news: The Union Ministry of Education launched the registration portal for the fifth edition of the Kashi Tamil Sangamam (KTS 5.0) on 22 October 2026. The event will be held from 28 November to 12 December 2026.
⭐ Exam importance: Medium — themes and edition numbers of cultural Sangamams, and Thirukkural basics, are asked in GK papers.
Key facts
- Theme: 'Thirukkural Payilvom – Thirukkural Abhyas Karen' (Let us learn the Thirukkural).
- Organisers: Ministry of Education with the Central Institute of Classical Tamil (CICT), Chennai; registration through an IIT Madras portal till 13 November 2026.
- Delegates: About 1,400 participants from Tamil Nadu in seven groups of about 200 each, on an eight-day journey covering Varanasi, Prayagraj and Ayodhya.
- Students: A nationwide Thirukkural Students' Engagement Programme through 1,000 Higher Education Institutions.
- Spirit: Celebrates the ancient links between Tamil Nadu and Kashi in the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat.
Kashi Tamil Sangamam editions| Edition | When |
|---|
| 1st | November–December 2022 (month-long) |
| 2nd | 17–30 December 2023 |
| 3rd | 15–24 February 2025 |
| 4th | 2–15 December 2025; theme 'Learn Tamil – Tamil Karkalam' |
| 5th | 28 November – 12 December 2026; theme on the Thirukkural |
Static GK link
- Thirukkural: Written by Thiruvalluvar; 1,330 couplets in 133 chapters of 10 each; three parts — Aram (virtue), Porul (wealth) and Inbam (love).
- Classical language: Tamil was the first language declared a Classical Language of India, in 2004.
- Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat: Announced on 31 October 2015 (Rashtriya Ekta Diwas) to promote bonding between States through cultural exchange.
6. Awards
International Criminal Court Wins the 2026 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought
Why in news: European Parliament President Roberta Metsola announced in Strasbourg on 22 October 2026 that the International Criminal Court (ICC) and its officials are the laureates of the 2026 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.
⭐ Exam importance: Medium — the prize's founder body and namesake, and ICC basics (Rome Statute, seat, India's position), are common GK questions.
Key facts
- Other finalists: Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu, and the Iranian sisters Taraneh and Romina Rahimi.
- Prize: EUR 50,000; ceremony in Strasbourg in December 2026 during Parliament's plenary session.
- Context: The award comes while the court faces United States sanctions on some of its officials.
- 2025 laureates: Jailed journalists Andrzej Poczobut (Belarus) and Mzia Amaglobeli (Georgia).
Static GK link
- Sakharov Prize: Instituted by the European Parliament in 1988; first laureates Nelson Mandela and Anatoly Marchenko.
- Andrei Sakharov: Soviet nuclear physicist and dissident (not a Soviet leader); Nobel Peace Prize 1975.
- ICC: Created by the Rome Statute (adopted 17 July 1998; in force 1 July 2002); seat The Hague, Netherlands; tries individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and aggression. India is not a party.
- ICC vs ICJ: The ICJ (also in The Hague) is a principal organ of the UN that settles disputes between States; the ICC is an independent court that tries individuals.
7. Appointments
Sunil Kumar to Be ONGC's Next Chairman — First to Rise Directly from Executive Director
Why in news: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the appointment of Sunil Kumar, an Executive Director at Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), as the company's next Chairman. He will take charge on or after 7 December 2026.
⭐ Exam importance: Medium — heads of Maharatna PSUs and 'first-time' appointments are asked in persons-in-news questions.
Key facts
- Current post: Executive Director and Asset Manager, Mehsana Asset, Gujarat.
- First: First executive in ONGC's history to move directly from Executive Director to Chairman; earlier chiefs usually came from board-level posts.
- Predecessor: Arun Kumar Singh, whose extended tenure ends on 6 December 2026.
- Tenure: Till superannuation on 31 December 2028, then on contract — a combined tenure of up to three years or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
- Selection: Recommended by a Search-cum-Selection Committee under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
Static GK link
- ONGC: Set up in 1956; Maharatna status in 2010; registered office New Delhi; under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas; overseas arm ONGC Videsh.
- ACC: Appointments Committee of the Cabinet — chaired by the Prime Minister, with the Home Minister as member; approves top appointments in PSUs and the Union government.
8. Sports
Inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026 in Ahmedabad (23–31 October)
Why in news: The first-ever Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship began on 23 October 2026 at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex, Ahmedabad (Gujarat). It runs till 31 October 2026.
⭐ Exam importance: Medium — 'inaugural' sports events and host cities are popular; Ahmedabad also links to the 2030 Commonwealth Games.
Key facts
- Teams: 13 men's teams (two groups of seven and six) and 10 women's teams.
- Organisers: Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI), with the approval of the International Kabaddi Federation (IKF).
- Schedule: Semi-finals on 30 October and gold-medal matches on 31 October 2026.
Static GK link
- 2030 Commonwealth Games: Awarded to Ahmedabad in November 2025 — the centenary edition (first Games: Hamilton, Canada, 1930). India last hosted in Delhi, 2010.
- Kabaddi basics: Seven players per side on court; Pro Kabaddi League began in 2014; men's kabaddi entered the Asian Games in 1990 (Beijing).
9. Science & Health
France Reports the First Known Human Case of Shamonda Virus — Patient Dies
Why in news: On 22 October 2026 French authorities reported what is believed to be the first recorded human infection with Shamonda virus (SHAV). The patient, a severely immunocompromised man in his 60s hospitalised in Lyon, died in early October 2026.
⭐ Exam importance: Medium — 'first human case' and the vector (midge vs mosquito) are typical trap questions in science GK.
Key facts
- Vector: Spread by Culicoides biting midges — tiny flies, not mosquitoes; the patient is suspected to have been bitten in eastern France.
- Virus: An Orthobunyavirus of the Simbu serogroup; first isolated from cattle in Nigeria in 1965.
- Animals: Mainly a livestock virus of cattle, sheep and goats; it can cross the placenta and cause abortions and birth defects.
- Europe 2026: Detected in livestock in 12 European countries in 2026, including France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy, Spain and Portugal.
- Risk: The WHO called it an isolated case with low public risk; no human-to-human spread has been reported.
Static GK link
- Related viruses: Schmallenberg virus (Germany, 2011) and Akabane virus are also midge-borne Simbu-group viruses of ruminants; bluetongue is another midge-borne livestock disease.
- Zoonosis: A disease that passes from animals to humans — e.g. rabies, Nipah, Kyasanur Forest Disease.
10. Defence (International)
'Badr' MoU — Türkiye, Qatar, Pakistan and Indonesia Sign a Defence-Industry Cooperation Pact in Doha
Why in news: Türkiye, Qatar, Pakistan and Indonesia signed the 'Badr' Memorandum of Understanding in Doha, Qatar, on 21 October 2026, as announced by Türkiye's Defence Ministry.
⭐ Exam importance: Low — new multilateral defence groupings may appear as one-liners; know the members and the venue.
Key facts
- Scope: Cooperation in military production, technical military training, and research and development; closer links between the four countries' defence industries.
- Nature: Reports describe it as an industrial and capability-building framework, not a mutual-defence pact.
- Signatories: Defence ministers of Türkiye and Pakistan, Qatar's Minister of State for Defence Affairs, and Indonesia's Deputy Defence Minister.
Static GK link
- Capitals: Türkiye — Ankara; Qatar — Doha; Pakistan — Islamabad; Indonesia — Jakarta.
- Groupings: All four are members of the OIC (1969, headquarters Jeddah); Türkiye has been a NATO member since 1952; Indonesia is a founder member of ASEAN (1967).
Practice questions with answers
With reference to Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk's visit to India (21–23 October 2026), consider the following statements:
- Poland announced that it is joining the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI).
- The joint statement noted that the India–EU Free Trade Agreement has already entered into force.
- The two sides set a target of doubling bilateral trade by 2030.
- 1 only
- 1 and 2 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (C) 1 and 3 only
Explanation: Statements 1 and 3 are correct. Statement 2 is wrong: the joint statement welcomed the conclusion of the India–EU FTA (January 2026) and called for its early signing and implementation — it is not in force. Trade of about USD 6.3 billion is to be doubled to over USD 12 billion by 2030.
According to UNEP's Emissions Gap Report 2026, under the lowest-overshoot pathway, by how much must global greenhouse gas emissions fall by 2035 compared with 2025?
- 18%
- 45%
- 69%
- 11–15%
Answer: (B) 45%
Explanation: The report ('The Point of Return', 21 October 2026) says emissions must fall 18% by 2030, 45% by 2035 and 69% by 2040 versus 2025. 11–15% by 2035 is what full implementation of current NDCs would achieve.
Match the State/UT with its snow leopard estimate in the SPAI (2024):
| List I | List II |
|---|
| A. Ladakh | 1. 51 |
| B. Uttarakhand | 2. 36 |
| C. Himachal Pradesh | 3. 124 |
| D. Arunachal Pradesh | 4. 477 |
- A-4, B-1, C-3, D-2
- A-3, B-4, C-1, D-2
- A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1
- A-4, B-3, C-1, D-2
Answer: (D) A-4, B-3, C-1, D-2
Explanation: Ladakh — 477 (4); Uttarakhand — 124 (3); Himachal Pradesh — 51 (1); Arunachal Pradesh — 36 (2). Hence A-4, B-3, C-1, D-2. India's total is 718; Sikkim 21 and J&K 9 complete the count.
Consider the Assertion (A) and Reason (R):
Assertion (A): Shamonda virus is transmitted mainly by Culicoides biting midges.
Reason (R): Shamonda virus belongs to the Simbu serogroup of orthobunyaviruses.
- Both A and R are true, and R explains A
- Both A and R are true, but R does not explain A
- A is true, R is false
- A is false, R is true
Answer: (B) Both A and R are true, but R does not explain A
Explanation: Both are true, but R does not explain A: a virus's classification does not decide its vector. Shamonda is spread by Culicoides midges (not mosquitoes) and was first isolated in Nigeria in 1965. France reported the first known human case on 22 October 2026.
The theme of Kashi Tamil Sangamam 5.0 (28 November – 12 December 2026) is centred on:
- Learning the Thirukkural
- Learning Tamil — 'Tamil Karkalam'
- Sangam-era trade
- Temple architecture of the Cholas
Answer: (A) Learning the Thirukkural
Explanation: KTS 5.0's theme is 'Thirukkural Payilvom – Thirukkural Abhyas Karen' (Let us learn the Thirukkural). 'Learn Tamil – Tamil Karkalam' was the theme of the 4th edition (December 2025). The Thirukkural, by Thiruvalluvar, has 1,330 couplets.
Consider the following statements:
- The 2026 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought was awarded to the International Criminal Court and its officials.
- The Rome Statute, which created the ICC, entered into force on 1 July 2002.
- India is a State Party to the Rome Statute.
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (A) 1 and 2 only
Explanation: Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is wrong: India has not signed or ratified the Rome Statute. The Sakharov Prize was set up by the European Parliament in 1988 and is named after Soviet physicist and dissident Andrei Sakharov (Nobel Peace Prize 1975).
Match the event with its venue:
| List I | List II |
|---|
| A. 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum | 1. Doha |
| B. Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026 | 2. Strasbourg |
| C. Signing of the 'Badr' MoU | 3. New Delhi |
| D. Announcement of the Sakharov Prize 2026 | 4. Ahmedabad |
- A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2
- A-4, B-3, C-1, D-2
- A-3, B-4, C-1, D-2
- A-3, B-4, C-2, D-1
Answer: (C) A-3, B-4, C-1, D-2
Explanation: BRICS Parliamentary Forum — New Delhi (3); Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship — Ahmedabad (4); 'Badr' MoU — Doha (1); Sakharov Prize announcement — Strasbourg (2). Hence A-3, B-4, C-1, D-2.
Sunil Kumar, named the next Chairman of ONGC, is notable because he:
- is the first woman to head ONGC
- was earlier the Chairman of Indian Oil Corporation
- was selected directly by the Public Enterprises Selection Board from outside ONGC
- is the first to rise directly from the Executive Director rank to Chairman
Answer: (D) is the first to rise directly from the Executive Director rank to Chairman
Explanation: Sunil Kumar, Executive Director and Asset Manager of the Mehsana Asset (Gujarat), is the first in ONGC's history to move directly from Executive Director to Chairman. He was recommended by a Search-cum-Selection Committee, approved by the ACC, and takes charge on or after 7 December 2026, succeeding Arun Kumar Singh.
Consider the Assertion (A) and Reason (R):
Assertion (A): The International Day of the Snow Leopard is observed on 23 October.
Reason (R): The Bishkek Declaration on snow leopard conservation was adopted by the 12 range countries on 23 October 2013.
- Both A and R are true, and R explains A
- Both A and R are true, but R does not explain A
- A is true, R is false
- A is false, R is true
Answer: (A) Both A and R are true, and R explains A
Explanation: Both are true and R explains A: the date marks the adoption of the Bishkek Declaration at the Global Snow Leopard Conservation Forum, Bishkek (2013). The UN General Assembly formally proclaimed the Day in 2024. The snow leopard (Panthera uncia) is Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
With reference to BRICS in 2026, consider the following statements:
- The 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum is being held at Samvidhan Sadan, New Delhi.
- The 18th BRICS Summit was held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, in September 2026.
- The 11th BRICS Parliamentary Forum was held in Brazil.
- 1 only
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (D) 1, 2 and 3
Explanation: All three are correct. The 12th Forum (26–27 October 2026) is in the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan; the 18th Summit was held at Bharat Mandapam on 12–13 September 2026; India took over the Forum's chair at the 11th Forum in Brasília (June 2025).