Location: North-Western Pacific Ocean, approximately 1,000 km south of Tokyo, Japan. Other name: Ogasawara Islands. Geographical origin: Volcanic oceanic islands that have never been connected to a continent. Island groups: Mukojima, Chichijima and Hahajima, along with other islands including those of the Kazan group and Nishinoshima. UNESCO World Heritage Site: Inscribed in 2011 under criterion…
UPSC Prelims Current Affairs for October 2026
UPSC Prelims Current Affairs for October 2026 brings together the news items of the day that map to the Prelims syllabus — polity, economy, environment, science and technology, and international relations. Each item is written as a factual pointer you can revise quickly, with the static-syllabus link made explicit so the reading feeds directly into your Prelims notes.
51 articles
26 October 2026
Ophiorrhiza shidiensis and Ophiorrhiza pemae
Why in News? Researchers have identified two new plant species in Vijoynagar, Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh. The findings were published in the journal Taiwania on October 23, 2026. Prelims Pointers Species: Ophiorrhiza shidiensis and Ophiorrhiza pemae. Location: Vijoynagar, Changlang district, Arunachal Pradesh. Plant family: Rubiaceae, also known as the coffee, madder and bedstraw family.…
24 October 2026
Shamonda Virus
Why in News? On 22 October 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported the first documented human case of Shamonda virus infection in France. The patient was severely immunocompromised and later died. However, authorities have not established that the virus caused or contributed to the death. No human-to-human transmission or risk to the general population…
PHP Security Crisis
Why in News? In October 2026, critical security vulnerabilities in PHP, a programming language widely used to build websites, triggered emergency cybersecurity measures worldwide. Governments, banks and businesses temporarily took some websites and online services offline to prevent potential cyberattacks while security patches were applied. Cybersecurity firm Cloudflare reported a sharp rise in attempted exploitation,…
23 October 2026
CORSIA
Full form: Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation. Launched by: International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a specialised agency of the United Nations. Adopted: 2016 by the ICAO Assembly. Objective: To address the growth of CO₂ emissions from international aviation and support carbon-neutral growth. Nature: A global market-based measure that requires aircraft operators to…
SUVIKALP Tool
Why in News? The Coal Controller Organisation (CCO) received the SKOCH Gold Award 2026 for the SUVIKALP Mine Repurposing Tool. Prelims pointers Full identity: SUVIKALP Mine Repurposing Tool. Developed by: Coal Controller Organisation (CCO). Ministry: Ministry of Coal, Government of India. Purpose: Identifies and prioritises sustainable alternative uses for closed and abandoned coal mines. Assessment…
22 October 2026
Baratang Island Karst–Mud-Volcano Complex
Location: Baratang Island, in the Andaman Islands, Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Union Territory). It lies between South Andaman and Middle Andaman, in the Bay of Bengal–Andaman Sea region. Why in the news: The Karst–mud-volcano Complex of Baratang was submitted to UNESCO’s Tentative List of World Heritage Sites on 28 September 2026. This is a tentative-list…
Phobos
Phobos is the larger and innermost of the two natural moons of Mars. The other moon is Deimos. Origin: Its origin is not fully established; scientists have proposed that it may be a captured asteroid or formed from debris following a major impact on Mars. Orbit: It orbits very close to Mars and completes one…
21 October 2026
Bud Rot Disease
Recently in News: Coconut growers in Tiptur taluk, Tumakuru district, Karnataka, have reported concerns over bud rot disease affecting coconut trees. Affected crop: Coconut palm (Cocos nucifera). Causal organism: Phytophthora palmivora, a fungus-like pathogen (oomycete). Nature of disease: It causes rotting of the terminal bud and surrounding tissues and can be fatal to the palm.…
Brown Bullhead Catfish
Species: Brown bullhead catfish. Habitat: Lake Memphremagog, located between Quebec in Canada and Vermont in the United States. Research significance: Researchers studied melanoma in this fish, which could provide clues to preventing the human body from rejecting a transplanted organ. Scientific finding: A 2026 study published in Nature identified the melanoma as a clonally transmissible…
Ravi Raaz
Hassan Khan
Shadab Ali