Daily GK Update- 25th Oct, 2026

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India to Host 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum on October 26–27 in New Delhi: India is preparing to host a major parliamentary gathering that will bring lawmakers and parliamentary representatives from BRICS member and partner countries to New Delhi on October 26 and 27.

The 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum is scheduled to take place in the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan, the Parliament complex. The Lok Sabha Secretariat announced the programme on October 22, describing it as an opportunity for parliamentary leaders to discuss strategic priorities under India’s chairship. The agenda is designed to cover both institutional questions and broader international challenges, including ethical AI, digital transformation, global governance reform and sustainable development.

 

2. Jaipur has been named in National Geographic’s Best of the World 2027.: Jaipur will turn 300 in 2027, and that’s just one of the many more reasons for travellers to visit Rajasthan’s capital. The city has made National Geographic’s Best of the World 2027 list, which features 25 destinations across six continents. The annual selection highlights places with something special to offer in the year ahead, from major cultural events and historic anniversaries to new outdoor experiences. For Jaipur, the focus is on its architectural heritage, traditional crafts and the 20th edition of the Jaipur Literature Festival. The destinations on the list all bring different experiences to the table. Luxor in Egypt, known for its ancient temples and tombs, is also preparing for a total solar eclipse on August 2, 2027. Penang in Malaysia draws visitors with its food culture and historic streets, while Japan’s Niigata offers regional cuisine, sake and coastal scenery.

 

3. Sunil Kumar appointed ONGC chairman for three years from December 7, 2026: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of Sunil Kumar, currently serving as executive director at Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), as the next chairman of the company for three years beginning December 7, 2026. He has been appointed chairman with effect from the date he assumes charge of the post on or after December 7, until his superannuation in December 2028 and thereafter on a contract basis, for a combined tenure of three years. Sunil Kumar will replace Arun Singh, who has been the chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of the petroleum explorer since December 2022.

 

4. Tamil Nadu Launches Thuli Rainwater Harvesting Campaign: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay launched the statewide ‘Thuli’ rainwater harvesting awareness campaign in Chennai on 21 October 2026. ‘Thuli’ means “drop” in Tamil. The launch included the unveiling of the campaign logo and mascot. Rainwater harvesting involves collecting and storing rainwater or directing it into the ground for recharge. Rooftop collection systems channel rainfall from roofs towards storage facilities or recharge structures. Percolation pits, trenches and recharge wells allow collected water to enter the ground. The Thuli campaign aims to strengthen rainwater harvesting, restore existing systems and improve groundwater recharge in urban and rural areas. Its coverage includes municipal corporations, municipalities, town panchayats and village panchayats.

 

5. Prime Minister Inaugurates RBI Data Centre in Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) ₹169-crore data centre and Cybersecurity Training Institute on 25 October 2026. The facilities occupy 18.55 acres at Info Valley-II in Jatni, near Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The foundation stone was laid by then-RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das on 22 March 2023. The data centre will host mission-critical payment and settlement systems, including Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) and National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT). It is certified to Tier IV by the Uptime Institute, a global data centre standards and certification organisation. Tier IV is its highest data centre classification and specifies fault-tolerant infrastructure. RTGS processes fund transfers individually and in real time, while NEFT settles transactions in batches. Both systems support electronic fund transfers through banks and other eligible entities. The RBI operates these payment systems as part of India’s financial infrastructure.

 

6. India to Build Secure Military AI Layer: On 23 October 2026, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said that the Ministry of Defence and the IndiaAI Mission are working to develop a dedicated artificial intelligence (AI) layer for the armed forces. The proposed layer is intended to provide secure domestic computing for decision-making support, target acquisition and data fusion. The military AI layer is intended to support a sensor-to-shooter loop, which connects information gathered by sensors with operational decisions and the use of weapons. Data fusion combines information from different sources to support a shared operational picture. Target acquisition involves identifying and locating potential targets for military action.

 

7. Amur Falcons Complete 20,000-km Migration to Manipur: Two satellite-tagged Amur falcons, Apapang and Alang, returned to Manipur on 22 October 2026 after a round-trip migration of nearly 20,000 km across 23 countries. Their route included a six-day, non-stop flight of nearly 6,000 km between northeast India and Somalia, including a crossing of about 3,000 km over the Arabian Sea. The Amur falcon (Falco amurensis) is a migratory raptor that breeds in northeastern China and the Russian Far East. It winters in southern Africa, where birds reach between November and December and remain until March or April. They return to their breeding grounds by April or May. Scientists from the Wildlife Institute of India fitted Apapang, Alang and a third falcon, Ahu, with satellite transmitters at the Chiuluan roosting site in Tamenglong district in November 2025. Tracking signals confirmed Apapang and Alang’s return to Manipur. Scientists lost contact with Ahu in Somalia earlier in 2026.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India Hosts the 7th Agrivoltaics World Conference 2026: India is hosting the 7th AgriVoltaics World Conference (AWC) 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The three-day international summit marks the first time a nation from the Global South hosts this event. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) hosts the conference alongside Germany’s Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUV). Conexio-PSE serves as the primary organizer. Under the theme “Powering the Global South,” the summit explores how dual-land usage can revolutionize clean energy generation and agricultural productivity.

 

2. Three Indian Sites Added to UNESCO’s Tentative List of World Heritage Sites: The Baratang Karst-Mud Volcano Complex and Andaman Subduction Volcanoes in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, along with the Sirpur Cultural and Archaeological Landscape in Chhattisgarh, have been added to India’s UNESCO Tentative List of World Heritage Sites. With these additions, India’s Tentative List has reached 81 sites. A Tentative List is an inventory of properties that a country considers suitable for possible nomination to the UNESCO World Heritage List. It helps countries identify and plan for the conservation of sites with potential Outstanding Universal Value. Inclusion in the Tentative List does not mean that a site has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is an initial step in the nomination process.

 

3. India, New Zealand Sign MoC on Electronic Origin Data Exchange Under FTA: India and New Zealand have signed Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) on Electronic Origin Data Exchange to Facilitate Bilateral Trade Under the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The MoC marks an important step towards strengthening customs cooperation and facilitating bilateral trade between the two countries. The initiative reflects a forward-looking approach to align bilateral customs cooperation with evolving international practices in digitalisation, information exchange and trade facilitation. The electronic exchange of origin data is expected to improve operational efficiency, reduce information gaps and provide greater certainty to traders engaged in bilateral trade.

 

4. India Targets 30 Million Tonnes of Fish Production in Five Years: India aims to raise annual fish production to 30 million tonnes within five years, from the current 19.7 million tonnes. Union Fisheries Secretary Abhilaksh Likhi stated the target on 23 October 2026, alongside an aim to increase seafood exports to ₹1.25 lakh crore. Inland fisheries contribute approximately three-fourths of India’s fish production, while marine fisheries account for the remaining share. Fish production includes output from both capture fisheries and aquaculture. Capture fisheries harvest fish from natural water bodies, whereas aquaculture involves the farming of aquatic organisms under managed conditions. The seafood export target of ₹1.25 lakh crore is part of the sector’s five-year production objectives. Fish and fish products are also sources of food and income for fishing communities. The production and export targets are linked to improving the livelihoods of small-scale fishers.

 

5. UK Launches Be Ready Emergency Preparedness Campaign: The UK government launched the “Be Ready” emergency preparedness initiative on 22 October 2026 through the Cabinet Office. The initiative is the first phase of a three-year public awareness campaign advising households on preparation for temporary disruptions to essential services. The campaign advises households to prepare for at least three days without services such as electricity, water, telephone networks or internet access. Suggested supplies include non-perishable food, bottled water, cash, prescription medicines and back-up power or communication equipment. The recommended water supply is up to nine litres per person. The campaign advises households to keep batteries fully charged or have a wind-up radio available. Cash and prescription medication are also included in the recommended supplies.

 

6. Japan’s Kikai Caldera Slowly Refills with Magma: On 23 October 2026, researchers from Kobe University described evidence that magma is gradually accumulating beneath Japan’s Kikai Caldera. The caldera formed during the Kikai-Akahoya eruption about 7,300 years ago, one of the largest volcanic eruptions of the Holocene Epoch. Kikai Caldera is an underwater volcanic depression in southern Japan. A caldera forms when a volcano’s summit or surrounding ground collapses after a large volume of magma is withdrawn during an eruption. The Kikai-Akahoya eruption produced extensive volcanic deposits in southern Japan and formed the caldera. The present research concerns magma accumulating beneath the caldera long after that eruption. The researchers found that the magma currently present is newly injected material, rather than simply molten remnants of the ancient eruption.

 

7. Lula da Silva Wins Fourth Term as Brazil’s President: Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won Brazil’s presidential runoff on 25 October 2026, securing about 51.8% of the vote against Senator Flávio Bolsonaro’s roughly 48.2%. Lula, aged 80, is set to begin his fourth presidential term on 5 January 2027. Brazil is a federal presidential republic. The president is elected by direct popular vote for a four-year term and may seek one consecutive re-election. Under the two-round system, a runoff is held if no candidate receives more than half of the valid votes in the first round. The first round of the 2026 election took place on 4 October. Flávio Bolsonaro received 47.03% of the vote, while Lula received 45.16%; Bolsonaro led by more than 2.2 million votes. Lula won the subsequent runoff, the first time since Brazil’s return to democracy in 1985 that a candidate who trailed in the first round went on to win the second.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

DEFENCE

 

1. Turkey, Qatar, Pakistan and Indonesia sign New Defence Cooperation Badr MoU: Turkey, Qatar, Pakistan, and Indonesia signed ‘Badr Memorandum of Understanding’ to boost defence cooperation on October 21 in Doha. The development comes amid escalating tensions in the Gulf region. Foster cooperation in defence manufacturing. Enhance the four countries’ defence capabilities. Promote collaboration in technical defence training and research and development contributing to industrial solutions suited to modern defence systems.

 

2. Indian Navy to Host Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue 2026: The Indian Navy will host the Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue (IPRD) 2026 in New Delhi from 3 to 5 November 2026. Its theme is “Science, Technology and Academic Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific”. Registration is open as of 23 October 2026. IPRD is the Indian Navy’s premier strategic maritime dialogue and an apex-level international conference. It brings together maritime thinkers, policymakers, experts, academics, practitioners, scientists and technologists. The 2026 dialogue aims to identify practical and collaborative approaches to science, technology and academic cooperation across the Indo-Pacific. The National Maritime Foundation, an Indian institution for maritime research, policy dialogue and strategic thought, is involved in organising the dialogue. The 2026 programme has five focus areas covering ocean science, maritime technology, ocean governance, maritime awareness and academic cooperation.

 

SPORTS

 

1. Asian Games: History, Editions and Important Facts: The Asian Games, or Asiad, is a continental multi-sport event held every four years for athletes from across Asia. Recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), it is the world’s second-largest multi-sport event after the Olympic Games. The idea for the Asian Games was proposed by Indian representative Guru Dutt Sondhi during the 1948 London Olympics. The Asian Athletic Federation, a precursor to the body that would organise the Games, was formally inaugurated in New Delhi on February 13, 1949. The Games were inspired by the Olympic movement and followed the Far Eastern Championship Games, held from 1913 to 1934. The first Asian Games took place in New Delhi from March 4 to 11, 1951. The event’s motto, “Ever Onward,” was proposed by Sondhi. Its official emblem features a bright red sun with 16 rays and a white circle at the centre.

 

2. ICC Sets Cricket Qualification Framework for LA28 Olympics: The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced changes to the cricket qualification framework for the Los Angeles Olympics 2028 in October 2026, after meetings in Dubai. The Games will feature separate men’s and women’s Twenty20 (T20) competitions, with six teams in each event. The men’s and women’s Olympic qualifying tournaments have been moved from 2027 to January and February 2028. The ICC has not yet announced the venues for either tournament. Each tournament will include eight teams: the seven highest-ranked eligible teams that have not already qualified, plus the winner of the Caribbean Regional Qualifier. The supplied framework does not state how many places each tournament will award.

 

3. Pankaj Advani Wins 29th World Title: Indian cueist Pankaj Advani won his 29th career world title at the WBL World Billiards Championships on 23 October 2026. He defeated England’s Robert Hall 1,906–1,206 in the final, held in Great Wyrley, England. The five-hour match saw Advani recover from a deficit of more than 300 points. Advani’s victory was his 21st world championship title in billiards. He received the John Roberts Trophy, named after the 19th-century English billiards champion John Roberts Sr. Advani made a break of 587 in the final, the highest break of the championship. A break is a series of points scored during a player’s visit to the table before the turn ends. Advani reached the final after defeating defending champion David Causier 1,607–1,271 in the semi-final. In the quarter-final, he beat Sourav Kothari 1,134–575. In the women’s event, India’s Shruthi L retained her title by defeating Australia’s Anna Lynch 347–222.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. Scientists Use Phage Therapy Against Resistant Joint Infection in Guntur: Doctors at Samishta Hospital (SHRI) in Guntur treated a 72-year-old man with a carbapenem-resistant infection of an artificial knee joint using phage therapy. The case, published on 22 October 2026 in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases (IJID Regions), is India’s first reported successful use of phage therapy for a carbapenem-resistant artificial joint infection. Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that infect and replicate within bacteria. Many phages target particular bacterial species or strains, making identification of the infection-causing bacterium important when selecting a treatment. Lytic phages multiply inside bacterial cells and cause them to rupture. In the Guntur case, the infected knee joint contained Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacterium resistant to carbapenems and other antibiotics. Researchers at the phage laboratory of SRM University in Andhra Pradesh developed a cocktail containing three specific bacteriophages. The clinical team, led by Dr Kalyan Chakravarthy Koganti, delivered the cocktail directly into the infected joint over 10 days.

 

2. CCMB Researchers Identify DZIP3 Antiviral Alarm Switch: Researchers at the CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, announced the discovery of a cellular antiviral mechanism on 22 October 2026. The study identified DZIP3 as a protein that senses viral RNA and activates immune defences. Dr Santosh Chauhan, a Senior Principal Scientist at CCMB, led the research, and Dr Rinku Sahu was its first author. Innate immunity is the body’s rapid, first-line defence against pathogens and includes cellular mechanisms that recognise infection. In the pathway identified by the researchers, DZIP3 detects viral RNA inside a cell and changes shape to become activated. It then moves to the mitochondria, organelles that produce most of a cell’s energy and also participate in cellular signalling. At the mitochondria, DZIP3 tags and activates immune defence proteins. This process triggers the production of Type-I interferons, signalling proteins that help limit viral multiplication. Type-I interferons include interferon-alpha and interferon-beta, which act through cell-surface receptors to activate antiviral responses.

 

3. Wildfires Threaten Ancient Cave Paintings in Maros-Pangkep: Wildfires in South Sulawesi, Indonesia, have burned more than 270 hectares of the Maros-Pangkep national park between 30 September and 18 October 2026. The fires came within 800 metres of caves containing prehistoric paintings, some dated to more than 67,000 years ago. Heat and smoke can damage the artworks even when flames do not reach the cave walls. A cave painting in Maros-Pangkep depicts human-like figures interacting with a pig and has been dated to at least 51,200 years old. Researchers from Griffith University dated a reddish hand stencil in a cave on Muna Island, off Sulawesi, to at least 67,800 years old. The dates place these works among the oldest known examples of cave art. The caves occur in a karst landscape of limestone formations. The surrounding national park is also designated as a UNESCO Global Geopark, a designation for a unified geographical area containing sites of international geological significance. The park contains both geological features and archaeological sites.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. NCDEX Launches NDEX and FINNDEX Equity Indices: On 22 October 2026, the National Commodities and Derivatives Exchange (NCDEX) launched NDEX and FINNDEX, two rule-based equity indices, in New Delhi. The launch extended NCDEX’s activities beyond its traditional focus on agricultural commodities into equity and equity derivatives markets. NDEX comprises 20 large and liquid Indian equities selected from the top 60 companies listed on the National Stock Exchange (NSE). FINNDEX tracks 15 financial-sector stocks, excluding insurance companies, selected from the top 40 eligible companies. An equity index measures the performance of a selected group of shares using a defined method for selecting and weighting its constituents. NCDEX Ltd owns NDEX and FINNDEX, while NSE Indices Ltd calculates and maintains them. The indices are reviewed and rebalanced twice a year, in March and September, and an individual stock cannot exceed a 15% weight. Their base month is January 2010, and their base value is 10,000. Index values are disseminated in real time during market hours.

 

2. Oil India Finds Natural Gas in Krishna-Godavari Basin: Oil India Limited (OIL) announced a natural gas discovery on 23 October 2026 in the shallow offshore block KG-DSF/GSKW/2018 in the Krishna-Godavari Basin. The discovery was made in the previously unappraised Matsyapuri formation through the Godavari-1 well, an appraisal well in the block operated solely by OIL. The Godavari-1 well confirmed hydrocarbons at depths of 2,024 to 2,027 metres. Production testing began on 16 October 2026. The well initially produced natural gas at approximately 1 lakh standard cubic metres per day, with a maximum continuous flow rate of 2 lakh standard cubic metres per day. Testing also recorded condensate production of about 170 barrels per day. The condensate had an API gravity of 55.8 at 60°F, while the wellhead pressure was 1,815 pounds per square inch (psi). Preparations were under way on 23 October 2026 to test the next higher zone within the Matsyapuri formation.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Devadas Chimakode Wins Karnataka Janapada Academy Award 2026: Veteran folk artist Devadas Chimakode has been selected for the Karnataka Janapada Academy’s Annual Honorary Award for 2026. The selection, announced on 21 October 2026, recognises his outstanding efforts over the past 35 years to preserve, promote, and propagate traditional folk art forms at the village level across the region. According to academy member Vijay Kumar Sonare, this state-level honour brings immense pride to Bidar district and serves as a vital push to encourage other folk artists dedicated to rural cultural traditions.

 

2. Ameena Nazreen A S Wins Global Youth Institute Award: Ameena Nazreen A S received a US$500 cash award at the Global Youth Institute on 23 October 2026 in Des Moines, Iowa. The institute was held as part of the 2026 Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue, organised by the World Food Prize Foundation under the theme “Before Hunger Wins”. The Global Youth Institute brings high school students from different countries together annually in Des Moines to examine food and nutrition security, sustainable agriculture and agricultural innovation. Participating students present research papers on food-system challenges and engage with international peers. Seven high school students from India were selected through the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS)-YUVA initiative to participate in the 2026 institute. The students presented research papers on food-security challenges and sustainable agricultural systems. Separately, on 14 July 2026, Nagappan N., a Class XII student at Reliance Foundation School in Koparkhairane, Navi Mumbai, was selected as one of ten students from India to represent the country at the institute. He was chosen through the NAAS-YUVA Selection Drive.