Current Affairs 30th September 2026 : Daily GK Update in English
1. Which traditional musical instrument from Jharkhand received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag around 29 September 2026?
A. Dhol
B. Mandar
C. Nagada
D. Shehnai
Answer: B. Mandar
Explanation: The Mandar, a traditional folk instrument deeply rooted in Jharkhand’s tribal culture, was granted a GI tag, giving legal recognition to its geographical and cultural identity.
2. What is the theme of International Translation Day 2026 (observed on 30 September)?
A. Translation and Diversity
B. Linguistic Diversity and Language Rights (subtitle: The Power of Being Understood)
C. Indigenous Languages and AI
D. United in Translation
Answer: B. Linguistic Diversity and Language Rights (subtitle: The Power of Being Understood)
Explanation: The International Federation of Translators (FIT) set this theme to highlight language rights, inclusion, and the role of translators in ensuring people are understood, especially in the context of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages.
3. Indian shooter Neeru Dhanda created history at the 2026 Asian Games by winning gold in which event?
A. Women’s 10m Air Rifle
B. Women’s Individual Trap
C. Women’s Skeet
D. Mixed Team Trap
Answer: B. Women’s Individual Trap
Explanation: Neeru Dhanda became the first Indian woman to win an individual Asian Games gold in trap shooting.
4. Where is the second ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME) being held in September–October 2026?
A. Singapore
B. Philippines
C. India
D. Indonesia
Answer: B. Philippines
Explanation: Co-hosted by the Indian Navy and Philippine Navy, the exercise involves ships such as INS Sahyadri and Kulish along with ASEAN vessels. It focuses on HADR, maritime domain awareness, and interoperability.
5. NIFT’s success at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 contributed to India’s overall ranking of approximately which position?
A. 5th
B. 10th
C. 15th
D. 20th
Answer: B. 10th
Explanation: India fielded its largest contingent and secured 6 silver medals and 20 Medals of Excellence overall.
6. India won gold in which athletics event at the 2026 Asian Games on/around 29 September?
A. Men’s 4×100m relay
B. Women’s 4×400m relay
C. Men’s 1500m
D. Women’s Long Jump
Answer: B. Women’s 4×400m relay
Explanation: The Indian women’s team (including Vithya Ramraj on the anchor leg) clocked 3:29.69 to win gold in Nagoya, Japan.
7. What significant milestone did SpaceX’s Starship achieve on/around 28 September 2026?
A. First crewed flight
B. First orbital flight
C. First Mars landing
D. First lunar orbit
Answer: B. First orbital flight
Explanation: During its 14th test flight, Starship’s upper stage reached orbit for the first time after separating from the Super Heavy booster.
8. Which Indian institute won two silver medals and a Medal of Excellence at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026?
A. NIFT
B. NID
C. IIT Bombay
D. NIT Trichy
Answer: A. NIFT
Explanation: The National Institute of Fashion Technology excelled in creative, digital, and retail-oriented skill domains at the 48th World Skills Competition.
9. The 65th National Exhibition of Art was organised by which body in New Delhi around 29 September 2026?
A. Sahitya Akademi
B. Lalit Kala Akademi
C. Sangeet Natak Akademi
D. National Gallery of Modern Art
Answer: B. Lalit Kala Akademi
Explanation: Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat felicitated 20 award-winning artists at the exhibition held at Rabindra Bhawan.
10. UIDAI organised ‘Aadhaar Samvaad’ in which city to mark the 17th Aadhaar Day around late September 2026?
A. New Delhi
B. Mumbai
C. Kolkata
D. Bengaluru
Answer: C. Kolkata
Explanation: The day-long stakeholders’ conference focused on advancing trusted digital identity and good governance, with MoS Jitin Prasada as chief guest.
11. US forces completed withdrawal from which country after a 23-year presence around 30 September 2026?
A. Afghanistan
B. Syria
C. Iraq
D. Yemen
Answer: C. Iraq
Explanation: American troops ended their major military presence that began with the 2003 invasion.
12. Which country appointed its first female Prime Minister, Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, in late September 2026?
A. Tunisia
B. Morocco
C. Algeria
D. Egypt
Answer: B. Morocco
Explanation: King Mohammed VI appointed her after her party’s victory in the general elections.
13. India’s reservoir storage stood at approximately what percentage of total capacity as of late September 2026 (below the 10-year average)?
A. 60%
B. 70%
C. 80%
D. 85%
Answer: B. 70%
Explanation: According to the Central Water Commission, storage in 178 major reservoirs was about 70%, below the decadal average of ~76.6%.
14. International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste is observed on which date?
A. 16 October
B. 29 September
C. 5 June
D. 2 February
Answer: B. 29 September
Explanation: The day promotes collective action to reduce food loss and waste; India has significant opportunities in this area.
15. Supreme Court agreed to hear a petition seeking suspension of which high official around 29 September 2026?
A. Chief Justice of India
B. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar
C. CBI Director
D. RBI Governor
Answer: B. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar
Explanation: The petition raised questions over unilateral exercise of authority and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
16. Which Indian Navy ships participated in the second ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise?
A. INS Vikrant and INS Kolkata
B. INS Sahyadri and INS Kulish
C. INS Delhi and INS Mumbai
D. INS Shivalik and INS Satpura
Answer: B. INS Sahyadri and INS Kulish
Explanation: They joined ASEAN ships for the exercise co-hosted with the Philippine Navy.
17. The theme of the second ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME 2026) is:
A. Secure Seas, Shared Prosperity
B. Anchored in Trust, United at Sea
C. One Ocean, One Future
D. Maritime Solidarity
Answer: B. Anchored in Trust, United at Sea
Explanation: The theme emphasises partnership, maritime security, and interoperability among India and ASEAN navies.
18. India’s first LNG-powered train was flagged off from which station in 2026?
A. Howrah
B. Sabarmati (Ahmedabad)
C. Chennai Central
D. New Delhi
Answer: B. Sabarmati (Ahmedabad)
Explanation: Union Minister Amit Shah flagged off India’s first Liquefied Natural Gas-powered train from Sabarmati Railway Station in Gujarat.
19. Foundation stone for India’s first port-based e-methanol production facility was laid at which port?
A. Mundra
B. Deendayal Port (Kandla)
C. JNPT
D. Visakhapatnam
Answer: B. Deendayal Port (Kandla)
Explanation: The facility is being developed at Deendayal Port Authority in Gujarat.
20. Jammu & Kashmir Assembly passed a resolution in late September 2026 seeking:
A. Special status under Article 370
B. Immediate restoration of full statehood
C. Bifurcation into two UTs
D. Merger with Ladakh
Answer: B. Immediate restoration of full statehood
Explanation: It was passed by voice vote after BJP legislators walked out.
21. Which country raised its cash rate to 4.60% (highest since 2011) in late September 2026?
A. New Zealand
B. Australia
C. Canada
D. UK
Answer: B. Australia
Explanation: The Reserve Bank of Australia hiked the rate by 0.25 percentage points citing persistently high inflation.
22. An Assam Rifles jawan was killed in an ambush in which state around 29–30 September 2026?
A. Manipur
B. Nagaland
C. Arunachal Pradesh
D. Assam
Answer: C. Arunachal Pradesh
Explanation: The incident occurred near Nampong Nallah in Changlang district during patrolling.
23. The second ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise builds on the inaugural edition held in which year and location?
A. 2022 in India
B. 2023 in Singapore
C. 2024 in Vietnam
D. 2025 in Malaysia
Answer: B. 2023 in Singapore
Explanation: The 2026 edition in the Philippines is the second such exercise, aimed at deepening maritime cooperation under the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
24. India’s overall medal tally at the 2026 Asian Games reached approximately what number after the strong Day-10 performance?
A. 40
B. 45
C. 53
D. 60
Answer: C. 53
Explanation: The eight medals on that day took India’s tally to 53.
25. Which body organised the Aadhaar Samvaad conference coinciding with the 17th Aadhaar Day?
A. MeitY
B. UIDAI
C. NITI Aayog
D. DigiLocker Authority
Answer: B. UIDAI
Explanation: Unique Identification Authority of India held the stakeholders’ meet in Kolkata to discuss further advances in digital identity services.