Current Affairs 15th October 2026 : Daily GK Update in Punjabi
On 15 Oct 2026
Current Affairs 15th October 2026 : Daily GK Update in English
1. The Union Cabinet recently approved the sale of a combined stake in IDBI Bank to a Fairfax entity. What is the percentage of the stake and the deal value?
A) 51% for ₹45,000 crore
B) 60.72% for ₹52,878 crore
C) 49% for ₹40,000 crore
D) 75% for ₹60,000 crore
Answer: B
Explanation: The Cabinet approved the sale of a combined 60.72% stake (Government 30.48% + LIC 30.24%) to a Fairfax Financial Holdings entity for ₹52,878 crore.
2. India’s Wholesale Price Index (WPI) inflation for September 2026 stood at:
A) 9.92%
B) 11.39%
C) 8.14%
D) 7.5%
Answer: B
Explanation: Provisional data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry showed WPI inflation.
3. The Union Cabinet approved the continuation of the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) for which period?
A) 2025-26 to 2029-30
B) 2026-27 to 2030-31
C) 2027-28 to 2031-32
D) 2024-25 to 2028-29
Answer: B
Explanation: The Cabinet approved continuation of NSAP for five years from 2026-27 to 2030-31 with a financial outlay of ₹53,428 crore.
4. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to visit which Indian cities in October 2026?
A) New Delhi and Hyderabad
B) Mumbai and Jamnagar
C) Bengaluru and Chennai
D) Kolkata and Ahmedabad
Answer: B
Explanation: Marco Rubio is scheduled to visit Mumbai and Jamnagar on 21 October 2026 to strengthen bilateral energy cooperation and the strategic partnership between India and the United States.
5. The Union Cabinet approved a Productivity Linked Bonus equivalent to how many days’ wages for eligible railway employees?
A) 60 days
B) 70 days
C) 78 days
D) 90 days
Answer: C
Explanation: The Cabinet approved a 78-day Productivity Linked Bonus for eligible non-gazetted railway employees (around 11.4 lakh staff), aimed at recognising their performance ahead of the festive season.
6. Which bridge connecting China and North Korea opened recently after a long delay?
A) Yalu River Friendship Bridge
B) New Yalu River Bridge
C) Tumen River Bridge
D) Amnok River Bridge
Answer: B
Explanation: The New Yalu River Bridge, a road cable-stayed bridge connecting Dandong (China) and Sinuiju (North Korea), opened after a 12-year delay.
7. Two cargo ships sank near which strategically important waterway after being attacked by projectiles in mid-October 2026?
A) Bab-el-Mandeb
B) Strait of Malacca
C) Strait of Hormuz
D) Suez Canal
Answer: C
Explanation: The Singapore-flagged container ship GFS Pride and the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged bulk carrier Cape Dao sank after projectile attacks near the Strait of Hormuz amid heightened tensions related to the Iran crisis.
8. The Supreme Court directed Indian Railways to provide insurance to passengers buying tickets offline. From which date will this rule take effect?
A) 15 October 2026
B) 1 November 2026
C) 27 October 2026
D) 1 January 2027
Answer: C
Explanation: The Supreme Court directed that insurance must be provided for all offline train ticket purchases, with the rule taking effect from 27 October 2026.
9. In September 2026, which country replaced the United States as India’s largest supplier of LNG?
A) Qatar
B) Australia
C) Oman
D) Russia
Answer: C
Explanation: Due to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz affecting shipments, Oman became India’s biggest LNG supplier in September 2026, overtaking the United States.
10. The first BIMSTEC Home Ministers’ Meeting, held in New Delhi, adopted which declaration?
A) Colombo Declaration
B) Bangkok Declaration
C) Delhi Declaration
D) Kathmandu Declaration
Answer: C
Explanation: The inaugural BIMSTEC Home Ministers’ Meeting (chaired by Amit Shah) concluded with the adoption of the Delhi Declaration.
11. A limited fire broke out at the headquarters of which major oil company following a Houthi attack?
A) Saudi Aramco
B) ADNOC
C) QatarEnergy
D) Rosneft
Answer: A
Explanation: Saudi Arabia’s Energy Ministry reported a limited fire at Aramco’s headquarters in Dhahran after a Houthi attack. No deaths or injuries were reported.
12. Russian ballistic missile strikes recently damaged a power station in which Ukrainian city, leaving thousands without heating?
A) Kharkiv
B) Odesa
C) Kyiv
D) Lviv
Answer: C
Explanation: A Russian ballistic missile attack struck a power station in the Dniprovskyi District of Kyiv, leaving more than 1,000 residential buildings without heating and affecting electricity supply.
13. Pope Leo underwent surgery after being diagnosed with which condition?
A) Heart ailment
B) Lung adenocarcinoma (lung cancer)
C) Kidney failure
D) Brain tumour
Answer: B
Explanation: Pope Leo was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma and underwent surgery to remove a growth from his lung. Recovery was reported as progressing normally.
14. The Productivity Linked Bonus for railway employees is primarily meant for:
A) Gazetted officers only
B) Non-gazetted eligible railway staff
C) Contractual workers
D) Pensioners
Answer: B
Explanation: The 78-day bonus is for eligible non-gazetted railway employees to recognise their productivity and performance.
15. PM GatiShakti National Master Plan completed how many years of implementation in October 2026?
A) 3 years
B) 4 years
C) 5 years
D) 6 years
Answer: C
Explanation: Launched on 13 October 2021, the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan completed five years of implementation.
16. Lakshadweep was recently declared India’s first fully literate Union Territory under which scheme?
A) Saakshar Bharat
B) ULLAS (Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram)
C) Padhe Bharat Badhe Bharat
D) National Literacy Mission
Answer: B
Explanation: Lakshadweep was declared 100% literate under the ULLAS (Understanding of Lifelong Learning for All in Society) scheme after all identified adult learners cleared the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Test (FLNAT).
17. Which Indian skater won a silver medal in the men’s 1000-metre sprint at the World Skating Games in Paraguay?
A) Anandkumar Velkumar
B) Harshveer Sekhon
C) Gaurav Sikri
D) Rohit Sharma
Answer: A
Explanation: Anandkumar Velkumar secured silver in the men’s 1000-metre sprint category at the World Skating Games held in Paraguay.
18. The Cabinet-approved IDBI Bank stake sale will leave the Government of India with what residual stake?
A) 10%
B) 15%
C) 20%
D) 26%
Answer: B
Explanation: After the sale of 30.48% by the government and 30.24% by LIC, the government will retain 15% and LIC will hold 19%.
19. Which of the following was NOT among the key areas prioritised by Home Minister Amit Shah at the BIMSTEC Home Ministers’ Meeting?
A) Drug control
B) Counter-terrorism and legal cooperation
C) Climate change adaptation
D) Cyber-security and cybercrime investigations
Answer: C
Explanation: The five priority areas highlighted were drug control, counter-terrorism & legal cooperation, repatriation of fugitive criminals, cyber-security & cybercrime, and institutional cooperation & capacity building.
20. India’s cumulative WPI inflation for the first half of FY 2026-27 stood at approximately:
A) 5.5%
B) 7.2%
C) 9.85%
D) 11.39%
Answer: C
Explanation: Cumulative WPI inflation for April–September 2026 was 9.85%, compared to a contraction in the corresponding period of the previous year.
21. Fairfax Financial Holdings is based in which country?
A) United States
B) United Kingdom
C) Canada
D) Australia
Answer: C
Explanation: The strategic buyer is 10955230 Canada Inc., a subsidiary of Canada-based Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd (associated with Prem Watsa).
22. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear petitions related to which controversial exercise of the Election Commission?
A) Delimitation
B) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls
C) Simultaneous elections
D) Voter ID-Aadhaar linkage
Answer: B
Explanation: The Supreme Court is hearing opposition petitions seeking disclosure of Election Commission records and interim relief regarding the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, which has sparked widespread protests.
23. Which of the following initiatives was approved at the BIMSTEC Home Ministers’ Meeting?
A) BIMSTEC Convention against Trafficking in Persons
B) Free Trade Agreement among all members
C) Common currency proposal
D) Joint space programme
Answer: A
Explanation: Key approvals included the BIMSTEC Convention against Trafficking in Persons, Plan of Action on Drug Control, MoU on capacity building against money laundering and terror financing, and plans on illicit financial flows and disaster preparedness.
24. Singapore recorded its highest air pollution levels of 2026 due to haze originating from:
A) Australian bushfires
B) Indonesian wildfires
C) Chinese industrial emissions
D) Indian crop burning
Answer: B
Explanation: Singapore recorded very high PM2.5 levels (around 288 µg/m³) amid haze from Indonesian wildfires. Timor-Leste also suspended classes due to poor air quality.
25. Which Indian city hosted the first BIMSTEC Home Ministers’ Meeting in October 2026?
A) Mumbai
B) Bengaluru
C) New Delhi
D) Hyderabad
Answer: C
Explanation: The inaugural meeting was held in New Delhi under the chairmanship of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, with participation from all seven BIMSTEC member states.