Current Affairs 13th October 2026 : Daily GK Update in Marathi
On 13 Oct 2026
Current Affairs 2nd April 2026 : Daily GK Update in English
1. When did India's first fully digital Census 2027 Phase I (self-enumeration) begin?
A) 1 March 2026
B) 1 April 2026
C) 1 May 2026
D) 1 June 2026
Answer: B) 1 April 2026
Explanation: Phase I of Census 2027, the world's largest population count exercise and India's first fully digital census, started with self-enumeration via a secure web portal on 1 April 2026. House listing and housing census field operations run from 16 April to 15 May 2026 in notified areas. It includes 33 questions on housing, amenities, and assets.
2. What is the reference date for India's Census 2027 population enumeration?
A) 1 January 2027
B) 1 March 2027
C) 1 April 2027
D) 1 July 2027
Answer: B) 1 March 2027
Explanation: The Census 2027 has a reference date of 00:00 hours of 1 March 2027 for population enumeration (Phase II), following the houselisting phase in 2026. This is the 16th Indian Census overall.
3. Which tool was launched/integrated for AI voice-to-text summarization in Gram Panchayat meetings, supporting 23 languages via BHASHINI?
A) eGramSwaraj
B) SabhaSaar
C) PFMS
D) GeM
Answer: B) SabhaSaar
Explanation: SabhaSaar, an AI-powered voice-to-text tool, has been used by over 1.15 lakh Gram Panchayats for meeting summarization. It integrates with BHASHINI and runs on the IndiaAI Compute Portal, enhancing rural digital governance.
4. How many Gram Panchayats are reported to be using eGramSwaraj for planning and digital payments?
A) Over 1 lakh
B) Over 2.59 lakh
C) Over 5 lakh
D) Over 7 lakh
Answer: B) Over 2.59 lakh
Explanation: As per the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, more than 2.59 lakh Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) use eGramSwaraj for Gram Panchayat Development Plans, geo-tagging assets, and digital payments (with ₹3 lakh crore transferred via PFMS and GeM).
5. India is discussing Arctic collaboration with Russia primarily for access to what percentage of Russia's gas reserves?
A) 40%
B) 60%
C) 80%
D) 95%
Answer: C) 80%
Explanation: Bilateral talks focus on energy security amid West Asia tensions, including Russian gas (80% reserves in Arctic), critical minerals, and logistics via the Northern Sea Route and Chennai-Vladivostok Corridor.
6. According to Energy Statistics India 2026, what was India's primary energy supply in FY 2024-25?
A) 8,00,000 ktoe
B) 9,32,816 ktoe
C) 10,50,000 ktoe
D) 12,00,000 ktoe
Answer: B) 9,32,816 ktoe
Explanation: The 33rd edition of Energy Statistics India 2026 (released by National Statistics Office) shows a 2.95% rise in primary energy supply to 9,32,816 ktoe in FY 2024-25, with strong growth in renewable energy capacity and generation.
7. What is India's estimated renewable energy (RE) potential as per recent statistics?
A) 20 lakh MW
B) 47 lakh MW
C) 60 lakh MW
D) 75 lakh MW
Answer: B) 47 lakh MW
Explanation: RE potential stands at 47 lakh MW (with 71% from solar), largely concentrated in six states. Installed RE capacity reached 2,29,346 MW with a CAGR of 10.93%.
8. Where was the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) held?
A) Bonn, Germany
B) Campo Grande, Brazil
C) New Delhi, India
D) Nairobi, Kenya
Answer: B) Campo Grande, Brazil
Explanation: CMS COP15 concluded in Campo Grande, Brazil, under the theme “Connecting Nature to Sustain Life.” It added 40 species to the appendices and urged a moratorium on deep-seabed mining. Germany will host COP16 in 2029.
9. How many species were added to the CMS appendices at COP15?
A) 20
B) 30
C) 40
D) 50
Answer: C) 40
Explanation: Examples include the Giant Otter, Striped Hyena, and Thresher Sharks (to Appendix I). Other outcomes included Blue Corridors, ocean flyway mapping, and an Amazonian Catfish Action Plan.
10. What new model did the 16th Finance Commission introduce for disaster funding allocation?
A) Additive model
B) Multiplicative Disaster Risk Index (DRI)
C) Fixed per capita model
D) State-only contribution model
Answer: B) Multiplicative Disaster Risk Index (DRI)
Explanation: DRI = Hazard × Exposure × Vulnerability replaces the earlier additive model for the ₹2,04,401 crore corpus (2026-31). It includes heatwaves and lightning as disasters, with an 80:20 split between SDRF and SDMF.
11. Which NASA mission, the first crewed lunar flight in over 50 years, involves a lunar flyby using the SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft?
A) Apollo 18
B) Artemis II
C) Orion I
D) Lunar Gateway
Answer: B) Artemis II
Explanation: Artemis II will carry four astronauts (including the first woman and first person of colour on such a mission) on an elliptical high Earth orbit with a free-return trajectory after a ~7,600 km lunar flyby.
12. Where was the first meeting of the BRIC-Research Advisory Board held?
A) Bengaluru
B) Faridabad
C) Hyderabad
D) Pune
Answer: B) Faridabad
Explanation: The meeting at the Regional Centre for Biotechnology (Faridabad) defined priorities for the Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC), which unifies 14 institutions under DBT to support the BioE3 Policy and a ₹300 billion bioeconomy by 2030.
13. What is Bhavasagara in Kochi designated as by the MoEFCC?
A) National Tiger Reserve
B) National Deep-Sea Fauna Repository
C) National Coral Reef Centre
D) National Mangrove Sanctuary
Answer: B) National Deep-Sea Fauna Repository
Explanation: CMLRE's Bhavasagara was notified as the custodian under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, holding about 3,500 specimens of EEZ species to support the Deep Ocean Mission.
14. Which technology for road construction, developed by CSIR-CRRI and IIP, uses agri-waste and reduces carbon footprint by 30-40%?
A) Plastic bitumen
B) Bio-bitumen
C) Rubberized asphalt
D) Nano-coating
Answer: B) Bio-bitumen
Explanation: This renewable binder is produced via pyrolysis of agri-waste (at 400-600°C). India is the first to produce it commercially; a 15% blend was used on NH-44 in 2024.
15. What special feature do the energy-efficient PCM bricks developed by IIT Guwahati use?
A) Phase Change Material (OM35) and biochar
B) Recycled plastic only
C) Solar panels embedded
D) Graphene coating
Answer: A) Phase Change Material (OM35) and biochar
Explanation: OM35 (melts at 35°C) absorbs/releases heat, lowering wall temperatures by ~3°C and cooling demand by 10-20%. Biochar prevents leakage.
16. Where was the IONS Maritime Exercise (IMEX) Table-Top Exercise 2026 hosted by the Indian Navy?
A) Mumbai
B) Kochi
C) Visakhapatnam
D) Chennai
Answer: B) Kochi
Explanation: The exercise under the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium involved 12 countries and focused on non-traditional maritime threats like piracy and trafficking in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
17. INS Agray, recently delivered to the Indian Navy, belongs to which class of vessels?
A) Visakhapatnam-class destroyer
B) Arnala-class ASW shallow water craft
C) Kamorta-class corvette
D) Nilgiri-class frigate
Answer: B) Arnala-class ASW shallow water craft
Explanation: The fourth in the class, built by GRSE with 80% indigenous content, is a 77m vessel capable of ~25 knots, equipped for anti-submarine warfare, mine-laying, and sub-surface surveillance.
18. Neoloboptera peninsularis, recently discovered, is a new species of what?
A) Frog
B) Cockroach
C) Spider
D) Butterfly
Answer: B) Cockroach
Explanation: It is the third Neoloboptera species in India (first identified via DNA), yellowish-brown with asymmetrical cerci, endemic to Peninsular India (found in Maharashtra's palm shrubs and leaf litter).
19. The Kariba Dam (site of a planned 500 MW floating solar plant) is located on which river?
A) Nile
B) Congo
C) Zambezi
D) Niger
Answer: C) Zambezi
Explanation: This is a recent development in renewable energy projects in Africa, as per energy-related current affairs updates around early April 2026.
20. Which new frog species (Nyctibatrachus kali) was highlighted in recent biodiversity news?
A) From Western Ghats
B) From Eastern Himalayas
C) From Andaman Islands
D) From Thar Desert
Answer: A) From Western Ghats (contextual from March-end updates carrying into April).
Explanation: It belongs to the night frog genus, adding to India's amphibian diversity.
21. Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve is being developed as India’s third cheetah habitat in which state?
A) Rajasthan
B) Madhya Pradesh
C) Gujarat
D) Uttar Pradesh
Answer: B) Madhya Pradesh
Explanation: This is part of ongoing cheetah reintroduction and conservation efforts.
22. The QS World University Rankings are published by which organization?
A) Times Higher Education
B) Quacquarelli Symonds
C) UNESCO
D) World Bank
Answer: B) Quacquarelli Symonds
Explanation: QS rankings frequently feature in education-related current affairs, with Indian institutions' performance often highlighted.
23. Under which Act was the National Biodiversity Authority established?
A) Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
B) Biological Diversity Act, 2002
C) Environment Protection Act, 1986
D) Forest Conservation Act, 1980
Answer: B) Biological Diversity Act, 2002
Explanation: It regulates access to biological resources and associated traditional knowledge.
24. What is the primary focus of the GARBH-Ini initiative?
A) Renewable energy
B) Maternal and child health research
C) Digital literacy
D) Space technology
Answer: B) Maternal and child health research
Explanation: It is implemented under relevant health/biotech departments for pregnancy and newborn outcomes.
25. World Autism Awareness Day is observed on which date?
A) 1 April
B) 2 April
C) 3 April
D) 4 April
Answer: B) 2 April
Explanation: It is a fixed international observance, relevant around early April current affairs.