Current Affairs 22nd October 2026 : Daily GK Update in English
1. Who launched the nationwide ‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan-Rabi 2026’ in Karnal, Haryana on 22 October 2026?
A) Narendra Modi
B) Shivraj Singh Chouhan
C) Amit Shah
D) Nirmala Sitharaman
Answer: B
Explanation: Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the campaign (22 Oct – 30 Nov 2026) to promote sustainable agriculture, soil health and judicious resource use under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
2. Police Commemoration Day is observed every year on which date?
A) 15 August
B) 21 October
C) 26 January
D) 2 October
Answer: B
Explanation: It marks the sacrifice of 10 policemen killed in a Chinese ambush at Hot Springs, Ladakh in 1959. On 21 October 2026, Home Minister Amit Shah flagged off a motorcycle rally from the National Police Memorial, New Delhi.
3. The motorcycle rally flagged off on Police Commemoration Day 2026 will culminate at which place for the Ekta Parade?
A) New Delhi
B) Kevadia / Ekta Nagar, Gujarat
C) Mumbai
D) Varanasi
Answer: B
Explanation: Approximately 90 riders from States, UTs, CAPFs and CPOs will converge at Ekta Nagar, Gujarat on 31 October as part of the ‘Fight Against Drugs’ initiative.
4. During US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to Mumbai (October 2026), India and the US reaffirmed commitment to early conclusion of which agreement?
A) Defence Logistics Agreement
B) Bilateral Trade Agreement
C) Nuclear Deal
D) Climate Partnership
Answer: B
Explanation: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Marco Rubio, along with other officials, reaffirmed commitment to an early Bilateral Trade Agreement and discussed the Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership.
5. India’s overall medal tally at the Asian Para Games 2026 (Aichi-Nagoya) stood at 62 medals (including 14 gold) after Day 3. How many medals did India win on Day 3 itself?
A) 18
B) 22
C) 27
D) 35
Answer: C
Explanation: On 21 October 2026, India won 27 medals (5 gold, 11 silver, 11 bronze), taking the total to 62 and placing India 5th overall.
6. The India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement came into force on which date in 2026?
A) 15 August
B) 20 October
C) 2 October
D) 26 January
Answer: B
Explanation: It came into force on 20 October 2026 (Vijay Dashami), providing 100% duty-free access for all Indian exports to New Zealand.
7. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addressed the 25th SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting held in which city?
A) Beijing
B) Moscow
C) Dushanbe
D) New Delhi
Answer: C
Explanation: The meeting was held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan on 20 October 2026. India reaffirmed support for the Multilateral Trade and Economic Cooperation Programme 2026–2030.
8. Which four countries signed the Badr Memorandum of Understanding to deepen defence industry cooperation in October 2026?
A) India, Russia, China, Iran
B) Qatar, Turkey, Pakistan, Indonesia
C) USA, UK, France, Germany
D) Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Jordan
Answer: B
Explanation: Qatar, Turkey, Pakistan and Indonesia signed the MoU for joint military production, technical training, research and development.
9. US special envoy Steve Witkoff met Russian President Vladimir Putin in which city in October 2026?
A) Moscow
B) Saint Petersburg
C) Sochi
D) Kaliningrad
Answer: B
Explanation: The meeting took place in Saint Petersburg. Putin agreed to resume US-mediated trilateral peace talks with Ukraine on or after 10 November.
10. Who was the American military veteran released by Russia during the Witkoff–Putin meeting?
A) Brittney Griner
B) Stephen Hubbard
C) Trevor Reed
D) Paul Whelan
Answer: B
Explanation: Stephen Hubbard, arrested by Russian authorities in 2022 during the Battle of Izium, was released as a goodwill gesture.
11. The US Department of State ordered non-emergency employees at its embassy in which city to leave due to escalating Houthi attacks?
A) Dubai
B) Riyadh
C) Abu Dhabi
D) Manama
Answer: B
Explanation: The order was issued for the US Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia amid rising Houthi threats.
12. Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele announced a military operation to rescue four Air Force technicians held hostage in which country?
A) Venezuela
B) Haiti
C) Colombia
D) Nicaragua
Answer: B
Explanation: The technicians belonging to the international Gang Suppression Force were taken hostage after a gang ambush in Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti on 18 October 2026.
13. The 9th edition of the India-Brazil-South Africa Maritime Exercise (IBSAMAR) 2026 concluded at which location?
A) Goa
B) Rio de Janeiro
C) Simon’s Town, South Africa
D) Visakhapatnam
Answer: C
Explanation: IBSAMAR-IX concluded at Simon’s Town, South Africa on 20 October 2026 to enhance interoperability among the three navies.
14. The Indian Air Force air show marking its 94th anniversary was scheduled at which venue in October 2026?
A) Hindon
B) Namo Ghat, Varanasi
C) Bangalore
D) Jodhpur
Answer: B
Explanation: The air show was planned at Namo Ghat, Varanasi on 22, 24 and 25 October 2026, with PM Modi scheduled to attend the main event on 25 October.
15. Core industrial growth in India hit a historic high of what percentage in September 2026?
A) 5.2%
B) 6.8%
C) 7.9%
D) 9.1%
Answer: C
Explanation: India’s core industries recorded 7.9% growth in September 2026, driven mainly by coal, refinery products and iron ore.
16. Which body voted to abolish the leap second over concerns about disruptions to computer systems?
A) UNESCO
B) International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM)
C) ISO
D) ITU
Answer: B
Explanation: The International Bureau of Weights and Measures decided to abolish the leap second to avoid disruptions to modern digital systems.
17. A New Mexico district judge ordered Meta to pay how much for misleading Facebook users about privacy?
A) $5 billion
B) $10 billion
C) $25 billion
D) $50 billion
Answer: C
Explanation: Meta was ordered to pay $25 billion — its largest fine ever — after a jury found it guilty of privacy violations.
18. UAE nominated which official to lead the United Nations?
A) Anwar Gargash
B) Lana Nusseibeh
C) Reem Al Hashimy
D) Abdullah bin Zayed
Answer: B
Explanation: The UAE nominated foreign ministry official Lana Nusseibeh as its candidate for the top UN post.
19. Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan briefed the media about Rashtriya Ekta Diwas 2026 celebrations to be held at?
A) New Delhi
B) Ekta Nagar, Gujarat
C) Amritsar
D) Hyderabad
Answer: B
Explanation: The 2026 Ekta Parade at Ekta Nagar will feature artists from 126 Naxal-affected districts and highlight the end of armed Naxalism, themed around 150 years of Vande Mataram.
20. India recorded over how many domestic air passengers in a single month (as highlighted in October 2026)?
A) 1 crore
B) 1.2 crore
C) 1.5 crore
D) 2 crore
Answer: C
Explanation: Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu noted that India crossed 1.5 crore domestic passengers in a single month, underscoring rapid aviation growth.
21. Which Indian minister launched the World Bank Group’s ‘World Development Report 2026: The Promise of Artificial Intelligence’?
A) Piyush Goyal
B) Ashwini Vaishnaw
C) Nirmala Sitharaman
D) Rajeev Chandrasekhar
Answer: B
Explanation: Union Minister for Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw launched the report in New Delhi.
22. The National Steering Committee under PM-SETU scheme approved five ITI cluster projects worth approximately how much in October 2026?
A) ₹500 crore
B) ₹1,195 crore
C) ₹2,500 crore
D) ₹3,000 crore
Answer: B
Explanation: Projects worth ₹1,194.92 crore were approved for ITI clusters in Maharashtra, Odisha and Jammu & Kashmir.
23. Which country’s president agreed to resume US-mediated trilateral peace talks with Ukraine on or after 10 November 2026?
A) China
B) Russia
C) Turkey
D) France
Answer: B
Explanation: Russian President Vladimir Putin made the announcement after meeting US envoy Steve Witkoff.
24. Which state sanctioned ₹100 crore for ‘Vetri 150’ to provide 25 extra wage days beyond the central guarantee?
A) Kerala
B) Tamil Nadu
C) Karnataka
D) Andhra Pradesh
Answer: B
Explanation: Tamil Nadu’s ‘Vetri 150’ scheme provides 25 additional days of work (taking total to 150) prioritising women-headed, SC, ST and forest-rights households.
25. Japan launched the MMX probe in October 2026 to collect samples from which celestial body?
A) Moon
B) Mars
C) Phobos (Martian moon)
D) Asteroid
Answer: C
Explanation: JAXA’s Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) probe was launched on an H3 rocket to bring back samples from Phobos.