Daily Current Affairs — 27 October 2026
· 15 min read · TS Police Hub (Anvil Edtech)
Cyclone 'Arnab' strengthens into a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm and heads for the Andhra Pradesh–Yanam coast, with red alerts in eastern Telangana; Vigilance Awareness Week 2026 on 'Probity for Prosperity'; protests over pre-feasibility work for the 11,200 MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project; Kerala clears flight services for a cooperative society ('Co-Keralam'); SAMHiTA digitises 100 manuscripts at Colombo's Gangaramaya Temple; the IAF's 'Wings Over Ganges' display at Varanasi; Ballon d'Or 2026 for Harry Kane and Alexia Putellas; US–Japan Exercise Keen Sword 27; and the Vice-President releases 'Advantage India'. Followed by 10 practice questions.
1. Disaster Management
Cyclone 'Arnab' Heads for the Andhra Pradesh–Yanam Coast — Kakinada–Yanam Belt Most Exposed
Why in news: A depression over the east-central Bay of Bengal intensified into Cyclonic Storm 'Arnab' and, on 27 October 2026, into a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast it to cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam by the forenoon of 28 October 2026.
⭐ Exam importance: High — a cyclone on the Andhra Pradesh coast with heavy-rain alerts in eastern Telangana; cyclone naming, the IMD intensity scale and Yanam's status are standard prelims questions.
Key facts
- Position (27 Oct): At 5:30 AM IST on 27 October 2026 it lay about 260 km south-east of Visakhapatnam, moving west at about 22 km/h.
- Forecast landfall: Between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam by the forenoon of 28 October, as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm; the highest storm surge was expected near Kakinada and Yanam.
- Wind speed: Sustained 115–125 km/h gusting to 140 km/h at landfall; 150–160 km/h gusting to 180 km/h over the sea on 27 October.
- The name: 'Arnab' was proposed by Bangladesh and means 'sea' or 'ocean' in Bengali; it comes from the list of names adopted in April 2020.
- Telangana: IMD issued red alerts for Bhadradri-Kothagudem, Mahabubabad, Mulugu and Khammam and orange alerts for Warangal, Suryapet, Nalgonda, Nagarkurnool and Jayashankar Bhupalpally for 28 October; Hyderabad was under a green alert.
- Odisha: Schools in the southern districts of Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri were closed on 28–29 October because of heavy-rain warnings.
IMD classification of cyclonic disturbances (maximum sustained wind)| Category | Wind speed (km/h) |
|---|
| Depression / Deep Depression | 31–49 / 50–61 |
| Cyclonic Storm (named from here) | 62–88 |
| Severe Cyclonic Storm | 89–117 |
| Very Severe Cyclonic Storm | 118–165 |
| Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm | 166–220 |
| Super Cyclonic Storm | 222 and above |
Static GK link
- Naming body: North Indian Ocean cyclones are named by RSMC New Delhi (run by IMD) from a list of 169 names — 13 each from the 13 member countries of the WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones.
- IMD: India Meteorological Department — set up in 1875; headquarters New Delhi; works under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
- Yanam: A district of the Union Territory of Puducherry, located as an enclave on the Godavari delta inside Andhra Pradesh, next to Kakinada.
2. Polity & Governance
Vigilance Awareness Week 2026 (26 October – 1 November) — Theme 'Probity for Prosperity'
Why in news: The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) is observing Vigilance Awareness Week from 26 October to 1 November 2026. It opened with public servants across ministries, PSUs and banks taking the integrity pledge at 11 AM on 26 October.
⭐ Exam importance: High — the yearly theme, the CVC's origin (Santhanam Committee) and its statutory — not constitutional — status are favourite polity questions.
Key facts
- Theme 2026: 'Probity for Prosperity' (Hindi: 'Satyanishtha se Samriddhi'), announced in CVC Circular No. 05/09/26 dated 18 September 2026.
- Three-month campaign: A preventive-vigilance campaign runs from 17 August to 16 November 2026, focused on disposal of pending complaints and cases, capacity building, digital initiatives and contract management.
- Why this week: The week is always held in the week that includes 31 October, the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, observed as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day).
- Reporting: Organisations must send their observance reports to the CVC by 30 November 2026.
Static GK link
- Origin: The CVC was set up in February 1964 by an executive resolution, on the recommendation of the Committee on Prevention of Corruption headed by K. Santhanam.
- Statutory status: It became a statutory body under the Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003. It is not a constitutional body.
- Composition: A Central Vigilance Commissioner and up to two Vigilance Commissioners, appointed by the President on the recommendation of a committee of the Prime Minister, the Union Home Minister and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha; term four years or up to age 65.
3. Geography & Environment
Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP), Arunachal Pradesh — Protests over Pre-Feasibility Work
Why in news: Groups opposed to the proposed 11,200 MW SUMP called a 12-hour bandh in the Siang, Upper Siang and East Siang districts on 23 October 2026, demanding a halt to pre-feasibility work. Unrest followed in Pasighat, where an NHPC office and a police station were set on fire; on 25 October the State government held talks with legislators and community organisations.
⭐ Exam importance: High — India's largest proposed hydropower project; the Siang–Brahmaputra river system and upstream dams in Tibet are core geography topics.
Key facts
- Project: A proposed 11,200 MW storage-based multipurpose project on the Siang river; it would be India's largest hydropower project.
- Agency and stage: NHPC Ltd is preparing the Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti; the government describes the PFR as a technical assessment, not a decision to build.
- Stated purpose: Supporters say its large live storage (about 9.2 billion cubic metres) could regulate downstream flows and moderate floods, including sudden releases from upstream projects in Tibet.
- Local concerns: Sections of the Adi community fear displacement, loss of ancestral land and ecological damage, and want surveys stopped until there is adequate consultation; some villages have consented to the PFR work.
- Seismic factor: The region lies in Seismic Zone V, the highest-risk zone; the PFR is meant to test technical viability.
Static GK link
- River course: The Yarlung Tsangpo of Tibet enters India in Arunachal Pradesh as the Siang (Dihang); it joins the Dibang and the Lohit in Assam to form the Brahmaputra, which flows into Bangladesh as the Jamuna.
- China's project: China formally began building a very large hydropower project on the lower Yarlung Tsangpo in Medog (Motuo) county, Tibet, in July 2025; India has raised concerns about transparency and downstream interests.
- NHPC: National Hydroelectric Power Corporation — a Central PSU under the Ministry of Power, set up in 1975; headquarters Faridabad.
4. States
Kerala Approves Flight Services by a Cooperative Society — Billed as India's First Cooperative-Sector Airline ('Co-Keralam')
Why in news: By a declaration dated 25 October 2026 and published the next day, the Kerala government allowed the Kerala Civil Aviation Development Cooperative Society to provide flight services. The decision was announced on 26 October 2026 at a cooperative event in Kozhikode.
⭐ Exam importance: Medium — a 'first' in the cooperative sector; links to the 97th Constitutional Amendment and the CIAL airport model.
Key facts
- Name: The airline is tentatively called 'Co-Keralam'; the project is led by C. N. Vijayakrishnan, chairman of the MVR Cancer Centre and Research Institute.
- Funding model: Capital to come from cooperative societies (a plan of about 200 societies investing ₹2 crore each); promoters say no State government money is involved. The company is modelled on Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL).
- Plan: Base at Nedumbassery (Kochi); start with two leased 72-seat aircraft on regional routes to Kozhikode, Kannur, Bengaluru, Mangaluru, Chennai, Coimbatore and Madurai.
- Status: The approval covers raising capital and starting the project; flights still need aviation regulatory clearances (DGCA) before operations begin.
Static GK link
- Cooperatives in the Constitution: The 97th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2011 made forming cooperative societies a right under Article 19(1)(c), added Article 43B (DPSP) and inserted Part IX-B.
- Ministry of Cooperation: A separate Union Ministry of Cooperation was created in July 2021.
- CIAL: Cochin International Airport — India's first airport built under a public–private partnership and, in 2015, the world's first airport to run fully on solar power.
5. Art & Culture
SAMHiTA Reaches Sri Lanka — 100 Manuscripts at Colombo's Gangaramaya Temple Being Digitised
Why in news: The India-supported SAMHiTA project was launched in Sri Lanka at the Gangaramaya Temple, Colombo, the first Sri Lankan institution to partner with it (reported 23–25 October 2026). Under an MoU signed in July 2026, local experts are digitising 100 ancient manuscripts held by the temple, with completion expected by the end of November 2026.
⭐ Exam importance: Medium — India–Sri Lanka cultural ties and manuscript-heritage missions (NMM, Gyan Bharatam) are recurring culture questions; the acronym itself can be asked.
Key facts
- Full form: SAMHiTA = South Asian Manuscript Histories and Textual Archive.
- Who runs it: Led by the India International Centre (IIC), New Delhi, with grant support from the Government of India through the Development Partnership Administration of the Ministry of External Affairs.
- Aim: To build a relational database and digital archive of Indian and South Asian manuscripts kept in libraries and repositories outside India.
- Sri Lanka phase: The manuscripts cover religious traditions, philosophy, languages and cultural practices; the project hopes more Sri Lankan institutions will join.
Static GK link
- National Mission for Manuscripts: Launched in 2003 by the Ministry of Culture to document and conserve India's manuscripts.
- Gyan Bharatam Mission: Announced in the Union Budget 2025–26 to survey, document and conserve over one crore manuscripts.
- Buddhist link: Emperor Ashoka sent his son Mahinda and daughter Sanghamitta to Sri Lanka to spread Buddhism in the 3rd century BCE.
6. Defence
'Wings Over Ganges' — IAF Aerial Display 2026 over the Ganga at Varanasi
Why in news: The Indian Air Force held a three-day aerial display, themed 'Wings Over Ganges', over the Ganga at Namo Ghat, Varanasi, on 22, 24 and 25 October 2026 to mark its 94th anniversary. About 100 aircraft took part, and the final show on 25 October was attended by the Prime Minister and the Defence Minister.
⭐ Exam importance: Medium — venue/occasion questions on air shows are common; links to Air Force Day, IAF commands and aerobatic teams.
Key facts
- Official title: 'Indian Air Force Aerial Display 2026', with the theme 'Wings Over Ganges'; organised by the IAF's Central Air Command.
- Aircraft: About 100 aircraft — 52 fighters (Rafale, Su-30MKI, MiG-29, Mirage-2000, Jaguar, LCA Tejas), 15 transport aircraft and 32 helicopters.
- Highlights: The Suryakiran Aerobatic Team was the main attraction; named formations included 'Kashi', 'Varun', 'Omkar' and a joint-services 'Tridev' helicopter formation.
Static GK link
- IAF: Founded on 8 October 1932 — Air Force Day is observed every 8 October; 2026 marks the 94th anniversary.
- Central Air Command: Headquartered at Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh; one of the IAF's seven commands (five operational, plus Training and Maintenance).
- Display teams: Suryakiran flies Hawk Mk132 jet trainers; Sarang is the IAF helicopter display team flying the indigenous ALH Dhruv.
7. Sports
Ballon d'Or 2026 — Harry Kane and Alexia Putellas Win; Lamine Yamal's Third Kopa Trophy
Why in news: The 70th Ballon d'Or ceremony, presented by France Football, was held at the London Palladium on 26 October 2026 — the first time it was staged in London. England's Harry Kane (Bayern Munich) won the men's award and Spain's Alexia Putellas (Barcelona) the women's award.
⭐ Exam importance: Medium — award–winner matching is a standard sports question; the trophy names (Kopa, Yashin, Gerd Müller, Sócrates) are frequent traps.
Key facts
- Harry Kane: First English winner since Michael Owen in 2001; he also won the Gerd Müller Trophy as top scorer with 73 goals for club and country in 2025–26.
- Alexia Putellas: Her third Ballon d'Or Féminin, after 2021 and 2022.
- Club and coach: Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona won Club of the Year (men and women); Spain's Luis de la Fuente was men's Coach of the Year.
Ballon d'Or 2026 — main winners| Award | Winner |
|---|
| Ballon d'Or (men) | Harry Kane (England) |
| Ballon d'Or Féminin | Alexia Putellas (Spain) |
| Kopa Trophy — best young player (men / women) | Lamine Yamal / Vicky López (both Spain) |
| Yashin Trophy — best goalkeeper (men / women) | Unai Simón / Cata Coll (both Spain) |
| Gerd Müller Trophy — top scorer (men / women) | Harry Kane / Charlyn Corral (Mexico) |
| Sócrates Award — social work | Bukayo Saka (England) |
Static GK link
- Ballon d'Or: Started in 1956 by the French magazine France Football; the first winner was England's Stanley Matthews. The women's award began in 2018.
- Trophy names: Kopa Trophy (under-21 players) is named after Raymond Kopa; Yashin Trophy (goalkeepers) after Lev Yashin, the only goalkeeper to win the Ballon d'Or (1963).
8. Defence (International)
Exercise Keen Sword 27 — Largest US–Japan Drill, 19–29 October 2026
Why in news: The biennial US–Japan exercise Keen Sword 27 is under way from 19 to 29 October 2026, with about 56,000 personnel — around 45,000 from Japan's Self-Defense Forces and about 11,000 from the United States — in Japan's south-western islands and surrounding waters.
⭐ Exam importance: Low — exercise–country matching appears regularly; pair it with India's own exercises with Japan.
Key facts
- Partners: Forces from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand and the Philippines take part; South Korea and the UK are observers.
- Focus: Air and missile defence, maritime operations, logistics, facility repair and casualty evacuation; the opening ceremony was held on Ishigaki Island.
- Naval assets: The US aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt and its strike group are part of the drill.
Static GK link
- India–Japan exercises: JIMEX (navies), Dharma Guardian (armies) and Shinyuu Maitri (air forces); both also take part in Malabar with the US and Australia.
- Quad: India, the US, Japan and Australia form the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad).
9. Books & Persons
Vice-President Releases 'Advantage India: Reshaping the Future for an Equitable World' by Anil K. Antony
Why in news: Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan released the book 'Advantage India: Reshaping the Future for an Equitable World', written by Anil K. Antony and published by Rupa Publications, in New Delhi on 23 October 2026.
⭐ Exam importance: Low — book–author pairs are asked in one-liners; the Vice-President's constitutional role is the more important static link.
Key facts
- Theme: The book looks at India's economic and social transformation over the past decade and its role in an equitable world order.
- Remarks: The Vice-President said innovation and technology should benefit all humanity rather than be the property of one country, and urged young people to take part in nation-building.
Static GK link
- Vice-President: Article 63 creates the office; Article 64 makes the Vice-President the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha; elected by an electoral college of members of both Houses of Parliament (Article 66) for five years.
- C. P. Radhakrishnan: India's 15th Vice-President, sworn in on 12 September 2025; earlier Governor of Maharashtra.
Practice questions with answers
With reference to Cyclone 'Arnab' (October 2026), consider the following statements:
- The name 'Arnab' was proposed by Bangladesh.
- North Indian Ocean cyclones are named by RSMC New Delhi from a list adopted by the WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones.
- The IMD forecast its landfall on the Tamil Nadu coast near Chennai.
- 1 only
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (B) 1 and 2 only
Explanation: Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is wrong: the IMD forecast landfall on the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam by the forenoon of 28 October 2026, with the Kakinada–Yanam belt most exposed. 'Arnab' means 'sea' in Bengali.
Cyclone 'Arnab' became a 'Very Severe Cyclonic Storm' on 27 October 2026. As per the IMD scale, what is the maximum sustained wind speed range of this category?
- 62–88 km/h
- 89–117 km/h
- 118–165 km/h
- 166–220 km/h
Answer: (C) 118–165 km/h
Explanation: A Very Severe Cyclonic Storm has winds of 118–165 km/h. 62–88 km/h is a Cyclonic Storm (the stage at which a name is given), 89–117 km/h a Severe Cyclonic Storm and 166–220 km/h an Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm.
Match the Ballon d'Or 2026 award with its winner:
| List I | List II |
|---|
| A. Ballon d'Or (men) | 1. Lamine Yamal |
| B. Ballon d'Or Féminin | 2. Harry Kane |
| C. Kopa Trophy (men) | 3. Unai Simón |
| D. Yashin Trophy (men) | 4. Alexia Putellas |
- A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3
- A-4, B-2, C-1, D-3
- A-2, B-4, C-3, D-1
- A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3
Answer: (D) A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3
Explanation: Ballon d'Or — Harry Kane (2); Féminin — Alexia Putellas (4); Kopa Trophy — Lamine Yamal (1), his third in a row; Yashin Trophy — goalkeeper Unai Simón (3). Hence A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3. The ceremony was held at the London Palladium on 26 October 2026.
With reference to the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), consider the following statements:
- It was set up in 1964 on the recommendation of the K. Santhanam Committee.
- It is a constitutional body under Article 315 of the Constitution.
- The theme of Vigilance Awareness Week 2026 is 'Probity for Prosperity'.
- 1 and 3 only
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (A) 1 and 3 only
Explanation: Statements 1 and 3 are correct. Statement 2 is wrong: the CVC is a statutory body under the CVC Act, 2003, not a constitutional body; Article 315 deals with Public Service Commissions. Vigilance Awareness Week 2026 runs from 26 October to 1 November.
Consider the Assertion (A) and Reason (R):
Assertion (A): NHPC is preparing only a Pre-Feasibility Report for the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project.
Reason (R): Construction of the project's main dam began in 2025.
- 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: (C) A is true, R is false
Explanation: A is true: SUMP (proposed 11,200 MW on the Siang, Arunachal Pradesh) is still at the pre-feasibility stage, which the government calls a technical assessment. R is false: construction has not begun. It was China that formally began a large hydropower project on the lower Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet in July 2025.
In October 2026, the Kerala government allowed which body to provide flight services, in what is billed as India's first cooperative-sector airline project?
- Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL)
- Kerala Civil Aviation Development Cooperative Society
- Kerala State Co-operative Bank
- Kerala Tourism Development Corporation
Answer: (B) Kerala Civil Aviation Development Cooperative Society
Explanation: The Kerala Civil Aviation Development Cooperative Society got the approval (declaration of 25 October 2026). The airline is tentatively named 'Co-Keralam' and is to be based at Nedumbassery, Kochi; its company model is borrowed from CIAL.
Match the military exercise with the participating countries:
| List I | List II |
|---|
| A. Keen Sword | 1. India – Sri Lanka |
| B. Malabar | 2. United States – Japan |
| C. Dharma Guardian | 3. India – Japan |
| D. Mitra Shakti | 4. India – US – Japan – Australia |
- A-2, B-4, C-3, D-1
- A-4, B-2, C-3, D-1
- A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3
- A-3, B-4, C-2, D-1
Answer: (A) A-2, B-4, C-3, D-1
Explanation: Keen Sword — US and Japan (2); Malabar — India, US, Japan and Australia (4); Dharma Guardian — Indian and Japanese armies (3); Mitra Shakti — Indian and Sri Lankan armies (1). Hence A-2, B-4, C-3, D-1. Keen Sword 27 runs from 19 to 29 October 2026.
With reference to the IAF's 'Wings Over Ganges' aerial display (October 2026), consider the following statements:
- It was held over the Ganga at Namo Ghat, Varanasi.
- It marked the 94th anniversary of the Indian Air Force.
- The Suryakiran Aerobatic Team flies Su-30MKI fighter aircraft.
- 1 only
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (B) 1 and 2 only
Explanation: Statements 1 and 2 are correct: the display was held on 22, 24 and 25 October 2026 at Namo Ghat, Varanasi, for the IAF's 94th anniversary (IAF founded 8 October 1932). Statement 3 is wrong: Suryakiran flies Hawk Mk132 jet trainers.
Consider the Assertion (A) and Reason (R):
Assertion (A): Vigilance Awareness Week is observed every year in the week that includes 31 October.
Reason (R): 31 October is the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
- 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 CVC deliberately holds the week around Sardar Patel's birth anniversary (Rashtriya Ekta Diwas), honouring his commitment to integrity in public life. In 2026 the week runs from 26 October to 1 November.
SAMHiTA, under which 100 manuscripts at Colombo's Gangaramaya Temple are being digitised, stands for:
- Sanskrit Manuscript Heritage and Translation Archive
- South Asian Heritage and Indic Text Alliance
- Sri Lanka–India Manuscript Heritage Initiative
- South Asian Manuscript Histories and Textual Archive
Answer: (D) South Asian Manuscript Histories and Textual Archive
Explanation: SAMHiTA = South Asian Manuscript Histories and Textual Archive. It is led by the India International Centre, New Delhi, with Government of India (MEA) support, and catalogues South Asian manuscripts held outside India. Gangaramaya Temple is its first Sri Lankan partner (MoU, July 2026).