Current Affairs 29th September 2026 : Daily GK Update in English
1. The Supreme Court of India recently refused to stay the Centre’s decision to impose a Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on which type of UPI transactions?
A. All UPI transactions
B. Person-to-person UPI transfers
C. Person-to-merchant UPI payments above ₹2,000
D. UPI payments below ₹2,000
Answer: C
Explanation: The SC refused to stay the 0.4% MDR on person-to-merchant UPI transactions exceeding ₹2,000, effective from 15 October 2026.
2. Which Indian space startup is set to launch MOI-1A, described as the country’s first orbital computing satellite, on SpaceX’s Transporter-18 mission?
A. Skyroot Aerospace
B. TakeMe2Space
C. Agnikul Cosmos
D. Pixxel
Answer: B
Explanation: TakeMe2Space’s MOI-1A (sub-50 kg) carries Nvidia Orin NX processors for on-orbit data processing and is scheduled for launch around 1 October 2026.
3. Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently flagged off India’s first LNG-powered train from which station?
A. New Delhi
B. Howrah
C. Sabarmati, Gujarat
D. Chennai Central
Answer: C
Explanation: The dual-fuel (diesel + LNG) train was flagged off from Sabarmati station to promote lower emissions and reduced diesel use.
4. India has so far successfully navigated crude oil supply disruptions according to which Union Minister?
A. Nirmala Sitharaman
B. Hardeep Singh Puri
C. Piyush Goyal
D. S. Jaishankar
Answer: B
Explanation: Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri stated that India has insulated itself from the turbulence in global crude supplies.
5. At the Asian Games 2026, pistol shooter Esha Singh won a silver medal in which event?
A. 10m Air Pistol
B. Women’s 25m Pistol
C. 50m Rifle
D. Mixed Team Pistol
Answer: B
Explanation: The 21-year-old Hyderabad shooter secured silver in the women’s 25m pistol event.
6. China crossed which medal mark at the Asian Games 2026 (as of recent updates)?
A. 150
B. 175
C. 200
D. 225
Answer: C
Explanation: China reached 205 medals (119 gold, 48 silver, 38 bronze).
7. US President Donald Trump recently rejected Iran’s proposal related to which strategic waterway?
A. Suez Canal
B. Strait of Hormuz
C. Strait of Malacca
D. Bab-el-Mandeb
Answer: B
Explanation: Trump rejected Iran’s latest plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz; Iranian officials still seek diplomatic talks via mediators.
8. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri recently met a US Congressional delegation led by Representative Brian Mast to discuss which Act among other issues?
A. CAATSA
B. Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act
C. CHIPS Act
D. Inflation Reduction Act
Answer: B
Explanation: Talks covered the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, energy security, counter-terrorism and freedom of navigation.
9. Russia recently reaffirmed its support for India’s permanent membership in which body?
A. G20
B. UNSC
C. WTO
D. IMF
Answer: B
Explanation: Russia backed India’s bid for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council.
10. The UN General Assembly adopted the UN Declaration on Sea Level Rise primarily to protect the rights of which group of nations?
A. Landlocked developing countries
B. Low-lying coastal nations and Small Island Developing States (SIDS)
C. Least Developed Countries only
D. Arctic Council members
Answer: B
Explanation: The declaration addresses threats to sovereignty, legal rights and maritime zones of low-lying nations and SIDS due to sea-level rise.
11. Heavy floods and landslides in Uttar Pradesh recently caused how many deaths (as per latest reports)?
A. Around 40
B. 81
C. 120
D. Over 200
Answer: B
Explanation: At least 81 people died in UP floods/landslides in the past few days; additional deaths were reported in Nepal.
12. A military airstrike on a market in Kyauktaw, Rakhine State, killed dozens of people. Which country’s military was responsible?
A. Thailand
B. Myanmar (Tatmadaw)
C. Bangladesh
D. China
Answer: B
Explanation: The Tatmadaw airstrike targeted areas controlled by the Arakan Army, killing at least 33–49 people.
13. Bank unions deferred a planned three-day nationwide strike after talks with which body?
A. RBI
B. Indian Banks’ Association (IBA)
C. Finance Ministry
D. SEBI
Answer: B
Explanation: The United Forum of Bank Unions deferred the strike after assurances from the IBA.
14. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay launched a welfare scheme providing what to newborns?
A. Free health insurance
B. One-gram gold ring
C. Education bond
D. Nutrition kit
Answer: B
Explanation: A 22-carat one-gram gold ring scheme for newborns was launched, fulfilling an electoral promise.
15. Experts have warned that El Niño may become “very strong” by late 2026, posing elevated risks mainly for which aspect in India?
A. Defence preparedness
B. Weather, rainfall and agriculture
C. Stock market volatility
D. Urban transport
Answer: B
Explanation: A strong El Niño could disrupt monsoon patterns and agricultural output.
16. The National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited completed a major 100-metre steel bridge (approx. 1,405 tonnes) for which project?
A. Delhi-Meerut RRTS
B. Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train
C. Chennai-Bengaluru High Speed
D. Vande Bharat expansion
Answer: B
Explanation: The bridge is a key milestone for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor in Maharashtra.
17. World Tourism Day 2026 was observed on 27 September with the theme related to:
A. Sustainable Tourism
B. Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism
C. Cultural Heritage
D. Eco-Tourism
Answer: B
Explanation: The day marks the adoption of UNWTO statutes in 1970; 2026 theme focused on digital AI transformation of tourism.
18. Congress parties in several states protested seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in:
A. Voter ID distribution
B. Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls
C. EVMs
D. Delimitation exercise
Answer: B
Explanation: Protests focused on claimed bias and irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision process.
19. An avalanche at the base camp of which Himalayan mountain in Nepal killed climbers and left others missing?
A. Everest
B. Nemjung (Manang District)
C. Annapurna
D. Kanchenjunga
Answer: B
Explanation: Heavy snowfall hampered rescue; at least two climbers died and 14 went missing.
20. India and Canada recently agreed to take bilateral ties to a “higher level”. Who made this statement?
A. PM Narendra Modi
B. EAM S. Jaishankar
C. Canadian PM
D. Foreign Secretary
Answer: B
Explanation: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar highlighted the commitment to elevate India-Canada relations.
21. The death toll from the Ebola outbreak in Congo (Bundibugyo strain) recently crossed:
A. 2,000 cases
B. 5,000 cases
C. 8,000 confirmed cases
D. 10,000 cases
Answer: C
Explanation: Confirmed cases surpassed 8,000 with a fatality rate over 48%; the outbreak remains difficult to control.
22. Tamil Nadu government recently rescinded a Government Order that had exempted which department from the RTI Act?
A. Home Department
B. Public Department
C. Finance Department
D. Education Department
Answer: B
Explanation: The controversial G.O. exempting the Public Department was withdrawn after political and activist backlash.
23. Census 2027 has been described by PM Modi as a:
A. Routine exercise
B. National responsibility
C. State subject only
D. Optional survey
Answer: B
Explanation: PM Modi emphasised the importance of the upcoming Census as a national duty.
24. COP31 hosts Australia and Türkiye are facing scrutiny primarily over which issue?
A. Biodiversity loss
B. Fossil-fuel transition and climate ambition
C. Plastic pollution
D. Desertification
Answer: B
Explanation: Both major fossil-fuel users face questions on their climate agendas, including fossil-fuel phase-out and loss-and-damage financing.
25. Russian drone strikes recently hit Kyiv, injuring among others the former secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council. Who is he?
A. Andriy Yermak
B. Volodymyr Horbulin
C. Oleksiy Danilov
D. Valerii Zaluzhnyi
Answer: B
Explanation: Strikes hit the National Academy of Sciences building and other sites, injuring Horbulin and others.