National Current Affairs, 21 October 2026

National Current Affairs, 21 October 2026 | Quiz4Exam

Index of Core Industries grows 7.9 per cent in September 2026

economy · ibps-po, sbi-po, rbi-grade-b, ssc-cgl, nabard

The Index of Core Industries grew by 7.9 per cent in September 2026 on a year on year basis, against 5.9 per cent in August 2026.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2326038&reg=3&lang=1

Iron Ore, Electricity, Coal, Refinery Products, Cement and Steel grew, while Fertilizers, Natural Gas and Crude Oil contracted.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2326038&reg=3&lang=1

The index is compiled with 2022-23 as the base year.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2326038&reg=3&lang=1

Why this matters

The eight core industries and their base year are asked directly, and the index is the figure banking and SSC papers quote for industrial output.

Linked static GK: The Index of Core Industries covers eight industries and is released by the Office of the Economic Adviser.

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33rd SIMBEX exercise with Singapore begins at Visakhapatnam

defence · nda, cds, afcat, ssc-cgl, ibps-po

The 33rd edition of the Singapore India Maritime Bilateral Exercise is being held at Visakhapatnam from 21 to 26 October 2026.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2326348&reg=3&lang=1

The exercise began in 1994 under the name Exercise Lion King.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2326348&reg=3&lang=1

The sea phase is scheduled from 24 to 26 October 2026 in the Bay of Bengal.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2326348&reg=3&lang=1

Why this matters

The exercise name, the partner country and the original name are a standard defence question, and SIMBEX is the one India runs with Singapore.

Linked static GK: SIMBEX is conducted between the Indian Navy and the Republic of Singapore Navy.

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Defence Ministry signs Rs 770 crore radar contract with BEL

defence · nda, cds, afcat, ssc-cgl

The Ministry of Defence signed a contract with Bharat Electronics Limited to procure the Improved Low Level Light Weight Radar at a cost of about Rs 770 crore.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2325933&reg=3&lang=1

The radar can detect and track fighter size targets as well as mini and micro drones.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2325933&reg=3&lang=1

The procurement is described as a step towards indigenisation of air defence platforms, aligned with Viksit Bharat at 2047.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2325933&reg=3&lang=1

Why this matters

The manufacturer and the value are both askable, and BEL is the defence public sector undertaking that recurs in these contracts.

Linked static GK: Bharat Electronics Limited is a defence public sector undertaking headquartered in Bengaluru.

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President to visit Chhattisgarh on 22 and 23 October

polity · ssc-cgl, ssc-chsl, ibps-po, rrb-ntpc

President Droupadi Murmu was to visit Chhattisgarh from 22 to 23 October 2026.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2326091&reg=3&lang=1

On 22 October she was to release a commemorative coin in honour of Pujya Mata Hasi Devi Ji at Lok Bhavan in Raipur.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2326091&reg=3&lang=1

On 23 October she was to attend Muriya Darbar and a public programme on the occasion of Bastar Dussehra at Jagdalpur.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2326091&reg=3&lang=1

Why this matters

Bastar Dussehra and Muriya Darbar are Chhattisgarh specific and are asked as culture questions, with the state capital as the usual companion.

Linked static GK: Raipur is the capital of Chhattisgarh and Bastar Dussehra is observed at Jagdalpur.

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CAQM invokes Stage I of GRAP in Delhi NCR as air quality turns poor

environment · ssc-cgl, ibps-po, rrb-ntpc, upsc-prelims

Delhi recorded a daily average Air Quality Index of 244 at 2 PM, in the Poor category, as per the Central Pollution Control Board bulletin.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2326133&reg=3&lang=1

The Poor category covers an Air Quality Index between 201 and 300.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2326133&reg=3&lang=1

The Commission for Air Quality Management invoked Stage I of the Graded Response Action Plan across the National Capital Region with immediate effect.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2326133&reg=3&lang=1

Why this matters

The GRAP stages and the Air Quality Index bands are asked as a pair, and CAQM is the statutory body candidates are expected to name.

Linked static GK: The Commission for Air Quality Management was set up by an Act of Parliament in 2021 for the National Capital Region and adjoining areas.

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India and New Zealand sign customs pact on electronic origin data

economy · ibps-po, sbi-po, ssc-cgl, rbi-grade-b

The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs and the New Zealand Customs Service signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on Electronic Origin Data Exchange of Trade in Goods.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2326043&reg=3&lang=1

The Memorandum was signed on 19 October 2026 by the Chairman of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs and the Comptroller of New Zealand Customs.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2326043&reg=3&lang=1

The Memorandum was signed under the India New Zealand Free Trade Agreement.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2326043&reg=3&lang=1

Why this matters

The board that runs indirect taxes and customs is asked by its full name, and the India New Zealand trade agreement is the frame this sits in.

Linked static GK: The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs works under the Department of Revenue in the Ministry of Finance.

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DRI seizes over nine kilograms of methamphetamine at Bhopal bus terminal

security · ssc-cgl, ssc-gd, police-constable, ibps-po

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence seized 9.139 kg of methamphetamine and arrested one person at the Inter State Bus Terminal in Bhopal on 20 October 2026.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2326107&reg=3&lang=1

The passenger was intercepted travelling by bus from Delhi to Bengaluru.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2326107&reg=3&lang=1

In recent operations the agency had seized 231.8 kg of methamphetamine tablets in the North Eastern region.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2326107&reg=3&lang=1

Why this matters

The agency behind a seizure is the askable part, and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence is confused with the Narcotics Control Bureau.

Linked static GK: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence is the apex anti smuggling agency under the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs.

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Ninth IBSAMAR exercise with Brazil and South Africa concludes

defence · nda, cds, afcat, ssc-cgl

The ninth edition of the India Brazil South Africa Maritime Exercise concluded at Simons Town in South Africa on 20 October 2026.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2326117&reg=3&lang=1

The closing ceremony marked the end of ten days of joint activities across the harbour and sea phases.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2326117&reg=3&lang=1

The exercise brought together the Indian, Brazilian and South African navies.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2326117&reg=3&lang=1

Why this matters

IBSAMAR is the three country exercise built on the India Brazil South Africa grouping, and the member list is the part candidates lose marks on.

Linked static GK: IBSA is a grouping of India, Brazil and South Africa, separate from BRICS.

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President presents Lalit Kala Akademi awards at 65th National Exhibition of Art

art-and-culture · upsc-prelims, ssc-cgl, mpsc-group-c, rrb-ntpc

The President presented the Lalit Kala Akademi awards to selected artists of the 65th National Exhibition of Art in New Delhi on 21 October 2026.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2325915&reg=3&lang=1

She also felicitated the Grand Prize winners and Honourable Mentions of the third Print Biennale India, 2026.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2325915&reg=3&lang=1

The President noted that the Lalit Kala Akademi and the Ministry of Culture are working to encourage the sale of artworks.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2325915&reg=3&lang=1

Why this matters

The three national akademis are a standing question, and Lalit Kala is the one for visual arts.

Linked static GK: Lalit Kala Akademi, Sahitya Akademi and Sangeet Natak Akademi were all set up in the early 1950s and work under the Ministry of Culture.

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Raman Research Institute study finds an accretion disk around Centaurus X-3

science-and-technology · upsc-prelims, ssc-cgl, rrb-ntpc, nda

Scientists found that Centaurus X-3, one of the brightest X-ray pulsars, is taking in material through an accretion disk, which is rare for pulsars of its kind.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2326032&reg=3&lang=1

Centaurus X-3 is a high mass X-ray binary whose companion star is more than 10 times the mass of the Sun, and it lies 24000 light years away.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2326032&reg=3&lang=1

The work was led by researchers at the Raman Research Institute, an autonomous institution of the Department of Science and Technology.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2326032&reg=3&lang=1

Why this matters

The institution behind a discovery is the askable part, and the Raman Research Institute sits under the Department of Science and Technology.

Linked static GK: A pulsar is a highly magnetised rotating neutron star, and the Raman Research Institute at Bengaluru was founded by C V Raman in 1948.

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Army Commanders Conference opens in New Delhi, Land Warfare Doctrine to be released

defence · nda, cds, afcat, ssc-cgl

The Army Commanders Conference, the apex level biannual forum of the Indian Army, is being held in New Delhi from 21 to 23 October 2026 and is chaired by the Chief of the Army Staff.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2325911&reg=3&lang=1

A key highlight of the conference is the release of the Land Warfare Doctrine by the Raksha Mantri.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2325911&reg=3&lang=1

The Raksha Mantri will also unveil the annual United Nations Journal and felicitate Indian Army personnel who served as United Nations peacekeepers.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2325911&reg=3&lang=1

Why this matters

The conference is the Army apex forum and it is held twice a year, which is the detail that gets asked.

Linked static GK: The Army Commanders Conference is held twice a year and is chaired by the Chief of the Army Staff.

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Index of Core Industries grows 7.9 per cent in September 2026

33rd SIMBEX exercise with Singapore begins at Visakhapatnam

Defence Ministry signs Rs 770 crore radar contract with BEL

President to visit Chhattisgarh on 22 and 23 October

CAQM invokes Stage I of GRAP in Delhi NCR as air quality turns poor

India and New Zealand sign customs pact on electronic origin data

DRI seizes over nine kilograms of methamphetamine at Bhopal bus terminal

Ninth IBSAMAR exercise with Brazil and South Africa concludes

President presents Lalit Kala Akademi awards at 65th National Exhibition of Art

Raman Research Institute study finds an accretion disk around Centaurus X-3

Army Commanders Conference opens in New Delhi, Land Warfare Doctrine to be released

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