Location: Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, in the Garhwal Himalayas. Established as a National Park: 1982. UNESCO World Heritage Site: Inscribed in 2005 as an extension of the Nanda Devi World Heritage listing (original inscription in 1988). Biosphere Reserve: Forms one of the two core areas of the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve; the other is Nanda Devi…
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 · page 2
20 October 2026
Barda Wildlife Sanctuary
Why in News? A study published in PLOS ONE reported that Asiatic lions have recolonised Barda Wildlife Sanctuary after more than a century of local absence. Location: Saurashtra region, Gujarat; spans parts of Porbandar and Devbhumi Dwarka districts. Area: Approximately 192.31 sq. km. Conservation significance: Identified as an important alternative habitat and a potential second…
19 October 2026
Pattanam
Location: The Pattanam archaeological site is located in Ernakulam District of Kerala, India, close to the city of Kochi on the southwestern coast of India. Historical Importance: This is a very old and important trading port that is also one of the first known examples of a historical city. The Muziris Connection: There is archaeological…
Right to Access the Internet
Fundamental Right: The Right to Access the Internet does not appear as a separate fundamental right in the Indian Constitution. Article 19(1)(a): Freedom of expression and thought has been interpreted to include the right to communicate one's ideas using the Internet. Article 19(1)(g): The freedom to engage in a profession, trade, occupation, or business, may…
17 October 2026
JWALA Missile
JWALA-MK1: India’s first indigenously developed private-sector micro-missile. Developer: IG Defence, a private Indian defence technology company. Type: Short-range Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM). Primary Purpose: Designed specifically to intercept and physically destroy hostile drones and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Hard-Kill Interceptor: Physically destroys the target rather than relying only on electronic disruption. GRID Defend Ecosystem: JWALA operates…
INS Samarthak
Why in News? Commissioning: INS Samarthak was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 16 October 2026 at Karwar, Karnataka. Indigenous Construction: It was built by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) at its Kattupalli shipyard in Tamil Nadu under the Make in India initiative. Indigenous Content: The vessel has over 75% indigenous content. Key Features Type: Indigenous…
16 October 2026
Chandigarh’s Sukhna Wetland Designated as Ramsar Site
Sukhna Wetland in Chandigarh was designated a Ramsar Site on 15 October 2026, taking India’s total to 103 Ramsar Sites. Location: Chandigarh, at the foothills of the Outer Himalayas, near the Shivalik Hills. Type: Peri-urban reservoir. Ecological Importance: Regulates water and sediment flows from its catchment and supports resident and migratory birds along the Central…
Conversion Does Not Grant Quota Benefits
Key Issue: Whether a person who converts from Hinduism, Sikhism or Buddhism to another religion can continue to claim Scheduled Caste (SC) status and reservation benefits. Constitutional Provision: Article 341 empowers the President to specify Scheduled Castes in relation to a State or Union Territory. Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950: Paragraph 3 restricts SC status…
15 October 2026
Ceropegia tamilnaduensis
Why in News? Botanists from the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) discovered and described a new plant species, Ceropegia tamilnaduensis, during a floristic survey of the Nellai Wildlife Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu. The discovery was reported on 13 October 2026. Discovery: Botanical Survey of India (BSI). Location: Nellai Wildlife Sanctuary, Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu. Plant…
Rare Ground Gecko
Animal group: Reptile; belongs to the order Squamata and the infraorder Gekkota. Habitat: Geckos are commonly associated with rocky habitats, forests, caves and human settlements, depending on the species. Adaptations: Many geckos are nocturnal and have specialised toe pads that help them climb smooth surfaces. Biodiversity importance: Rare and range-restricted geckos may be vulnerable to…
Ravi Raaz
Hassan Khan
Shadab Ali