Current Affairs 16th October 2026 : Daily GK Update in Hindi
On 16 Oct 2026
Current Affairs 16th October 2026 : Daily GK Update in English
1. India’s overall unemployment rate in September 2026, as per NSO/PLFS data, stood at approximately:
A) 4.2%
B) 5%
C) 6.9%
D) 7.5%
Answer: B) 5%
Explanation: The National Statistics Office reported the overall unemployment rate at 5% in September 2026 (stable compared to August), with rural at 4.2% and urban at 6.9%.
2. India’s Ramsar site tally reached 103 with the addition of which two wetlands?
A) Chilika and Keoladeo
B) Sukhna Wetland (Chandigarh) and Sauj Jheel (Uttar Pradesh)
C) Loktak and Wular
D) Sundarbans and Bhitarkanika
Answer: B) Sukhna Wetland (Chandigarh) and Sauj Jheel (Uttar Pradesh)
Explanation: Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav announced the designation of Sukhna Wetland in Chandigarh and Sauj Jheel in Uttar Pradesh, taking India’s total Ramsar sites to 103.
3. The Ministry of Defence signed contracts worth over ₹4,000 crore for which major acquisitions?
A) Rafale jets and S-400 systems
B) GSAT-7C communication satellite for IAF and Varunastra Heavy Weight Torpedoes for Navy
C) Tejas Mk2 and Arihant-class submarines
D) Pinaka rockets and Akash missiles
Answer: B) GSAT-7C communication satellite for IAF and Varunastra Heavy Weight Torpedoes for Navy
Explanation: On 15 October 2026, MoD signed contracts for GSAT-7C (dedicated communication satellite capability for the Indian Air Force) and Varunastra Heavy Weight Torpedoes for the Indian Navy, valued at over ₹4,000–4,106 crore.
4. The Union Cabinet approved continuation of the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) for five years (2026-27 to 2030-31) with an outlay of:
A) ₹25,000 crore
B) ₹40,000 crore
C) ₹53,428 crore
D) ₹75,000 crore
Answer: C) ₹53,428 crore
Explanation: The Cabinet, chaired by PM Narendra Modi, approved NSAP continuation with a total budget of ₹53,428 crore, including expansion of disability pension eligibility and increased assistance.
5. India approved accession to which international fisheries agreement covering non-migratory resources in the Southern Indian Ocean?
A) IOTC
B) SIOFA (Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement)
C) CCAMLR
D) RFMO
Answer: B) SIOFA (Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement)
Explanation: The Central Government approved India’s accession to SIOFA, which manages non-migratory fishery resources in international waters of the Southern Indian Ocean.
6. The theme of the International Day of Rural Women 2026 (observed on 15 October) was:
A) Empowering Rural Women through Technology
B) Rural Women Farmers Caring for Mother Nature
C) Equal Rights for Rural Women
D) Women in Agriculture: Future of Food Security
Answer: B) Rural Women Farmers Caring for Mother Nature
Explanation: The UN International Day of Rural Women on 15 October 2026 focused on the theme “Rural Women Farmers Caring for Mother Nature,” highlighting their role in agriculture, food security, and environmental protection.
7. A school shooting in Bend, Oregon (USA), resulted in the deaths of:
A) Only the shooter
B) 3 children and 1 teacher (plus the teen shooter)
C) 10 people
D) No fatalities
Answer: B) 3 children and 1 teacher (plus the teen shooter)
Explanation: At Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, a teen shooter killed three children and one teacher before being killed.
8. The Election Commission announced a Special Summary Revision of electoral rolls in how many states/UTs?
A) 10
B) 12
C) 17
D) 25
Answer: C) 17
Explanation: The EC announced Special Summary Revision of electoral rolls in 17 states and Union Territories (with 1 January 2027 as the qualifying date in many cases), focusing on updates, enrolments, corrections, and verified deletions.
9. Indian wrestler Vishvajit Ramchandra More won a silver medal in which event at the U23 World Championships in Las Vegas?
A) Freestyle 65 kg
B) Greco-Roman
C) Women’s freestyle 53 kg
D) Greco-Roman 87 kg
Answer: B) Greco-Roman
Explanation: Vishvajit Ramchandra More clinched a historic silver in the Greco-Roman finals at the U23 World Championships in Las Vegas on 15 October 2026.
10. West Indies defeated India by 24 runs in the fourth T20I in Hyderabad, with captain Shai Hope scoring an unbeaten:
A) 75
B) 89
C) 102
D) 120
Answer: C) 102
Explanation: Shai Hope scored an unbeaten 102 off 50 balls and Keemo Paul took five wickets as West Indies beat India by 24 runs, levelling the five-match T20I series 2-2.
11. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal stated that the first tranche of the India–US trade agreement has been:
A) Completely signed
B) Finalised, with legal drafting underway
C) Abandoned
D) Delayed indefinitely
Answer: B) Finalised, with legal drafting underway
Explanation: On 15 October 2026, Piyush Goyal said the first tranche of the proposed India–US trade agreement had been finalised, with legal drafting in progress.
12. The Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) approved for over 11.4 lakh railway employees was equivalent to how many days’ wages?
A) 60 days
B) 78 days
C) 90 days
D) 100 days
Answer: B) 78 days
Explanation: The Union Cabinet approved a PLB equivalent to 78 days’ wages for 11,40,770 eligible railway employees (maximum payment around ₹17,951 per employee).
13. Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan inaugurated KAUMARACON 2026, an international conference on:
A) Ayurvedic cardiology
B) Ayurvedic paediatrics (KaumarabhrityA)
C) Yoga therapy
D) Traditional surgery
Answer: B) Ayurvedic paediatrics (KaumarabhrityA)
Explanation: The third International Conference on Kaumarabhritya (Ayurvedic child health) was inaugurated at the All India Institute of Ayurveda, New Delhi, on 15 October 2026.
14. A school roof collapse in Peshawar, Pakistan, killed approximately how many people (mostly children)?
A) 15
B) 25
C) 34 students and a teacher
D) 50+
Answer: C) 34 students and a teacher
Explanation: A private school roof collapsed in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, killing at least 34 students and one teacher and injuring over 50 others.
15. Two cargo ships sank near the Strait of Hormuz after being hit by:
A) Storms
B) Projectiles
C) Collisions
D) Mines only
Answer: B) Projectiles
Explanation: Maritime officials reported that two cargo ships sank after being struck by projectiles near the Strait of Hormuz, raising concerns over global shipping amid regional tensions.
16. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine would resume strikes on:
A) Russian cities
B) Russian oil refineries
C) Crimea only
D) Black Sea fleet exclusively
Answer: B) Russian oil refineries
Explanation: Zelenskyy expressed frustration with US policy and announced the resumption of strikes on Russian oil refineries after a brief pause.
17. US President Donald Trump cancelled the planned livestream of the execution of:
A) A recent mass shooter
B) Nidal Hasan (2009 Fort Hood shooter)
C) A foreign terrorist
D) A death-row inmate in Texas
Answer: B) Nidal Hasan (2009 Fort Hood shooter)
Explanation: Trump announced that the Department of Defense’s plan to livestream the firing-squad execution of Nidal Hasan (scheduled for December) was reversed; only immediate families of victims would be allowed to witness it.
18. The New Yalu River Bridge connecting which two countries opened after a 12-year delay?
A) China and Russia
B) China and North Korea
C) South Korea and Japan
D) India and China
Answer: B) China and North Korea
Explanation: The bridge linking Dandong (ChinA) and Sinuiju (North KoreA) finally opened after a 12-year delay.
19. Australia agreed to provide Fiji with Bluebottle maritime drones powered by:
A) Nuclear energy
B) Solar, wind, and wave power
C) Diesel only
D) Hydrogen
Answer: B) Solar, wind, and wave power
Explanation: Australia will supply Fiji with solar-, wind-, and wave-powered Bluebottle maritime drones plus training for surveillance against drug trafficking and transnational crime (deployment expected in 2027).
20. Houthi forces launched attacks that included strikes on Saudi Arabian airports and the presidential palace area in:
A) Sana’a
B) Aden, Yemen
C) Riyadh only
D) Dubai
Answer: B) Aden, Yemen
Explanation: Houthis attacked Al-Maashiq Palace (headquarters of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council) in Aden, killing five and injuring 16, alongside earlier attacks on Saudi airports including King Khalid International Airport.
21. The European Central Bank authorised UniCredit to raise its stake in which German bank above 30% without an upper limit?
A) Deutsche Bank
B) Commerzbank
C) Allianz
D) Volkswagen Bank
Answer: B) Commerzbank
Explanation: The ECB allowed the Italian bank UniCredit to increase its stake in Commerzbank above 30% with no upper limit, enabling a potential takeover.
22. North Korea announced successful tests of:
A) Intercontinental ballistic missiles only
B) Submarine-launched cruise missiles
C) Hypersonic glide vehicles exclusively
D) Nuclear warheads
Answer: B) Submarine-launched cruise missiles
Explanation: North Korea reported successful tests of cruise missiles designed to be launched from submarines (first such tests in nearly three years).
23. Google announced new AI initiatives in India focused on:
A) Only search engines
B) Teacher training, climate-resilient crops, and support for small businesses
C) Autonomous vehicles exclusively
D) Defence technology
Answer: B) Teacher training, climate-resilient crops, and support for small businesses
Explanation: Google expanded AI projects in Indian education (teacher training), agriculture (climate-resilient crops), and support for small businesses.
24. Supreme Court clarified that conversion to Islam by itself does not automatically entitle a person to:
A) Citizenship
B) Reservation as a Backward Class
C) Passport
D) Voting rights
Answer: B) Reservation as a Backward Class
Explanation: The Supreme Court upheld that mere conversion to Islam does not establish eligibility for Backward Class (Muslim) reservation; the Article 16(4) test of social and educational backwardness must still be satisfied.
25. Indian Navy’s INS Tarkash participated in which multilateral exercise in South Africa?
A) Malabar
B) IBSAMAR IX 2026
C) RIMPAC
D) Milan
Answer: B) IBSAMAR IX 2026
Explanation: The guided-missile stealth frigate INS Tarkash took part in the 9th edition of the India-Brazil-South Africa Maritime Exercise (IBSAMAR IX) hosted by South Africa at Simon’s Town.