Daily Current Affairs October 24–25

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October 24–25 | Daily Current Affairs 2026

Important Days – Daily Current Affairs October 24–25

1. On which date was United Nations Day 2026 observed, marking the 81st anniversary of the United Nations?
A) 20 October 2026
B) 24 October 2026
C) 26 October 2026
D) 10 December 2026
E) 26 June 2026
Answer: B) 24 October 2026.

Event and Location:

• Event: United Nations Day 2026 was observed to commemorate the 81st anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations (UN), founded on 24 October 1945.
• Location: Observed globally, with the United Nations headquartered in New York, United States.
• Date: 24 October 2026.

Mandates and Objectives:

• Mandates: United Nations Day commemorates the entry into force of the UN Charter on 24 October 1945. The Charter was signed by representatives of 50 countries on 26 June 1945 in San Francisco, United States, while Poland subsequently became the 51st founding signatory. The UN General Assembly established United Nations Day in 1947, and it has been observed annually since 1948. The organisation currently has 193 member states and operates through six principal organs: the General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council, International Court of Justice, Secretariat and Trusteeship Council.
• Objectives: The United Nations aims to maintain international peace and security, promote human rights, strengthen friendly relations among nations, provide humanitarian assistance and encourage international cooperation. It supports sustainable development through the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted on 25 September 2015, which includes 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). India, one of the 51 founding members, actively contributes to UN peacekeeping operations and advocates reforms in the Security Council to improve representation of developing countries.

Important Terms Explained:

• United Nations Charter: The founding treaty of the United Nations, signed on 26 June 1945 and enforced on 24 October 1945, establishing the organisation’s purposes, principles and institutional structure.
• United Nations General Assembly (UNGA): The main deliberative and representative organ of the UN, comprising all 193 member states and providing a platform for discussing global issues.
• United Nations Security Council (UNSC): The principal UN organ responsible for international peace and security, consisting of 15 members, including five permanent members with veto power and 10 elected non-permanent members serving two-year terms.
• Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC): One of the six principal organs of the UN, responsible for coordinating international economic, social and development-related activities.
• International Court of Justice (ICJ): The principal judicial organ of the UN, headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands, responsible for settling legal disputes between states within its jurisdiction and providing advisory opinions.
• UN Secretariat: The administrative organ of the United Nations responsible for carrying out day-to-day operations under the leadership of the Secretary-General.
• Trusteeship Council: A principal UN organ established to supervise trust territories, which suspended regular operations in 1994 after completing its main mission.
• Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR): A landmark international human rights document adopted by the UN General Assembly on 10 December 1948, outlining fundamental rights and freedoms.
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): A set of 17 global goals adopted in 2015 under the 2030 Agenda to address poverty, inequality, environmental protection, healthcare and sustainable development by 2030.
• UN Peacekeeping Operations: International missions conducted under UN authority to help maintain peace, protect civilians and support stability in conflict-affected regions.
• Veto Power: A special voting privilege held by the five permanent UNSC members—China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States—allowing any one of them to block substantive Security Council resolutions through a negative vote.

Tabular Summary:

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2. What was the theme of World Polio Day 2026, observed on 24 October to promote global polio eradication efforts?
A) End Polio for a Better Tomorrow
B) Together, We End Polio
C) Vaccines for Every Child
D) A Polio-Free World for All
E) Global Action Against Polio
Answer: B) Together, We End Polio.

Event and Location:

• Event: World Polio Day 2026 was observed with the theme “Together, We End Polio” to raise awareness about poliomyelitis, promote vaccination and strengthen global polio eradication efforts.
• Location: Observed globally, with particular focus on Afghanistan and Pakistan, the two countries where wild poliovirus type 1 remains endemic.
• Date: 24 October 2026.

Mandates and Objectives:

• Mandates: World Polio Day is observed annually on 24 October to commemorate the birth anniversary of Jonas Salk, who led the development of the first successful injectable polio vaccine. The observance was initiated by Rotary International to promote awareness, vaccination and global eradication efforts. The 2026 theme emphasises coordinated action among governments, healthcare professionals, international organisations, donors and communities. According to the World Health Organization’s August 2026 assessment cited in the report, wild poliovirus type 1 transmission continued in Afghanistan and Pakistan. India recorded its last wild polio case on 13 January 2011 and was included in the WHO South-East Asia Region’s polio-free certification on 27 March 2014.
• Objectives: The observance aims to ensure complete polio vaccination coverage, strengthen surveillance for early detection of poliovirus, improve vaccine accessibility in remote and underserved communities, combat vaccine misinformation and maintain financial and political commitments towards eradication. It also highlights the importance of continuing immunisation programmes in polio-free countries, including India, to prevent the reintroduction and spread of the virus.

Important Terms Explained:

• Poliomyelitis (Polio): A highly contagious viral disease caused by poliovirus that primarily affects children below five years of age and can lead to irreversible paralysis in severe cases.
• Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV): A vaccine containing weakened live poliovirus, administered orally to protect against polio and help reduce community transmission.
• Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV): An injectable vaccine containing inactivated poliovirus that provides protection against paralytic polio without using live virus.
• Wild Poliovirus Type 1 (WPV1): A naturally circulating strain of poliovirus that remains endemic in Afghanistan and Pakistan and can cause paralytic poliomyelitis.
• Circulating Vaccine-Derived Poliovirus (cVDPV): A genetically changed strain originating from weakened viruses used in oral polio vaccines that can circulate in under-immunised populations and cause outbreaks.
• Pulse Polio Immunisation Programme: India’s mass vaccination initiative aimed at protecting children against polio through repeated administration of oral polio vaccine doses.
• Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI): An international public health partnership launched in 1988 to eliminate poliovirus transmission worldwide through vaccination, disease surveillance and coordinated eradication strategies.
• National Immunisation Days (NIDs): Large-scale vaccination campaigns conducted to administer polio vaccines to eligible children, including those who may have missed routine immunisation.
• Polio Surveillance: The systematic monitoring and investigation of suspected poliovirus infections to detect transmission early and support timely public health interventions.
• Fecal-Oral Transmission: A route of infection in which poliovirus spreads through the ingestion of food or water contaminated with infected faecal matter.

Tabular Summary:

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3. On which date was the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) established to strengthen India’s border security following the India-China War of 1962?
A) 21 October 1962
B) 24 October 1962
C) 26 January 1963
D) 15 August 1962
E) 31 October 1962
Answer: B) 24 October 1962.

Event and Location:

• Event: The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) observed its 64th Raising Day in 2026, commemorating its establishment in 1962 to strengthen India’s Himalayan border security following the India-China conflict.
• Location: India, particularly the 3,488-km India-China border extending from Karakoram Pass in Ladakh to Jachep La in Arunachal Pradesh.
• Date: 24 October 2026.

Mandates and Objectives:

• Mandates: ITBP Raising Day commemorates the establishment of the force on 24 October 1962 with four battalions under the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Act, 1949. Operating under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), ITBP is responsible for guarding the India-China border across Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. Its responsibilities were redefined in 1975, followed by the enactment of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force Act, 1992, and the framing of rules in 1994. In 2004, under the One Border, One Force principle, ITBP assumed responsibility for guarding the entire India-China border, replacing Assam Rifles in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. The force operates at altitudes ranging from 9,000 to 18,800 feet, where winter temperatures can reach approximately −45°C.
• Objectives: ITBP aims to safeguard India’s territorial integrity through high-altitude border surveillance, patrolling, prevention of illegal crossings and control of transnational crimes. It also conducts disaster rescue and relief operations in Himalayan regions, provides specialised mountaineering and skiing capabilities, supports internal security operations, including anti-Left Wing Extremism duties in Chhattisgarh, and assists local communities in remote border areas. Its organisational structure includes 60 service battalions, four specialist battalions, 17 training centres and seven logistics establishments, reflecting its responsibilities in border protection, disaster management and national security.

Important Terms Explained:

• ITBP Raising Day: An annual observance held on 24 October to commemorate the establishment of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police in 1962 and recognise its contributions to national security.
• Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Act, 1949: The legislation under which ITBP was initially established in 1962 before receiving its own statutory framework.
• Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force Act, 1992: Legislation enacted by the Indian Parliament to provide a separate legal framework for the constitution, regulation and administration of ITBP.
• One Border, One Force Principle: A border management policy aimed at assigning primary responsibility for guarding a particular international border to a designated security force, improving coordination and accountability.
• Border Outposts (BOPs): Strategically established security posts along international borders used for surveillance, patrolling, monitoring movements and responding to security threats.
• High-Altitude Border Patrolling: Specialised security operations conducted in mountainous areas under extreme weather conditions to monitor borders and prevent unauthorised activities.
• Disaster Management and Relief Operations: Emergency response activities involving search and rescue, evacuation, medical assistance and relief distribution during natural disasters such as avalanches, landslides and floods.
• Left Wing Extremism (LWE): A security challenge involving armed Maoist extremist groups in certain regions of India, where ITBP personnel may be deployed for internal security operations.
• Mountaineering and Skiing Training: Specialised physical and operational training provided to ITBP personnel to perform patrol, rescue and security duties in snow-covered mountainous terrain.
• Shaurya – Dridhata – Karma Nishtha: The official motto of ITBP, meaning Valour, Steadfastness and Devotion to Duty, reflecting the force’s commitment to courage, determination and dedicated service.

Tabular Summary:

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Sports – Daily Current Affairs October 24–25

4. Which 11-year-old British chess player of Indian origin became the youngest female International Master after securing her final IM norm at the European Club Cup 2026 in Montenegro?
A) Divya Deshmukh
B) Bodhana Sivanandan
C) R Vaishali
D) Tania Sachdev
E) Koneru Humpy
Answer: B) Bodhana Sivanandan.

Event and Location:

• Event: Bodhana Sivanandan, an 11-year-old British chess player of Indian origin, reportedly became the youngest female International Master (IM) after securing her final IM norm and surpassing Judit Polgar’s 1988 age record.
• Location: European Club Cup 2026, Budva, Montenegro.
• Date: 23 October 2026.

Mandates and Objectives:

• Mandates: Bodhana Sivanandan secured her final International Master norm at the European Club Cup 2026 in Budva, Montenegro, after defeating Swedish Woman International Master Viktoria Johansson in the seventh and final round. Representing She Plays To Win Lionesses A on board one, she scored 5.5 points from seven rounds with a tournament performance rating of 2,465. At the age of 11 years, seven months and 16 days, she surpassed Hungarian chess legend Judit Polgar, who achieved the International Master title at age 12 in 1988. She also became the seventh-youngest player overall to achieve the required IM norms. Under FIDE regulations, the International Master title generally requires three qualifying norms and a standard rating of at least 2,400.
• Objectives: The achievement highlights the growing participation and competitive success of young female chess players in international tournaments. It also demonstrates the importance of FIDE’s title qualification system, which recognises players through tournament performance norms and rating requirements. The milestone distinguishes the open International Master title, available to players of all genders, from women-specific chess titles and highlights opportunities for young players to advance towards higher titles such as Grandmaster.

Important Terms Explained:

• International Master (IM): An internationally recognised chess title awarded by FIDE to players who satisfy qualifying performance norms and generally achieve a standard rating of at least 2,400.
• Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE): The international governing body of chess, responsible for regulating international competitions, maintaining official ratings and awarding recognised chess titles.
• IM Norm: A qualifying tournament performance meeting FIDE requirements relating to opponents’ ratings, titles, tournament conditions and performance standards, contributing towards eligibility for the International Master title.
• Grandmaster (GM): The highest standard over-the-board chess title awarded by FIDE, generally requiring qualifying GM norms and a standard rating of at least 2,500.
• Woman Grandmaster (WGM): A women-specific chess title awarded by FIDE, generally requiring qualifying performances and a minimum standard rating of 2,300.
• Woman International Master (WIM): A women-specific chess title awarded by FIDE, generally requiring qualifying performances and a minimum standard rating of 2,200.
• Tournament Performance Rating (TPR): A numerical measure estimating a player’s performance strength in a tournament based on results achieved against opponents of different ratings.
• European Club Cup: An international European team chess competition in which qualifying chess clubs compete across multiple boards.
• FIDE Standard Rating: An official numerical rating used to measure a player’s competitive strength in standard time-control chess games.

Tabular Summary:

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5. Which Indian women’s cricketer announced her retirement from all formats on 23 October 2026 after representing India and winning the 2024 Women’s Premier League title with Royal Challengers Bengaluru?
A) Shikha Pandey
B) Punam Raut
C) Sabbhineni Meghana
D) Veda Krishnamurthy
E) Sushma Verma
Answer: C) Sabbhineni Meghana.

Event and Location:

• Event: Indian women’s cricketer Sabbhineni Meghana (S Meghana) announced her retirement from all formats of cricket at the age of 30, concluding her international and domestic playing career.
• Location: India; Meghana hails from Andhra Pradesh and represented India, Gujarat Giants and Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
• Date: 23 October 2026.

Mandates and Objectives:

• Mandates: S Meghana announced her retirement from all formats of cricket after representing India in 20 international white-ball matches and participating in the Women’s Premier League (WPL). She made her international debut in a T20 International against the West Indies in November 2016 at Vijayawada and her One Day International (ODI) debut against New Zealand in February 2022 at Queenstown. During her ODI career, she scored 49 runs off 50 balls and 61 runs off 41 balls in consecutive matches against New Zealand. Her last international appearance came in October 2022. She represented Gujarat Giants and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the WPL and was part of RCB’s maiden championship-winning team in 2024, which defeated Delhi Capitals in the final.
• Objectives: Meghana’s retirement marks the conclusion of her professional playing career while allowing her to focus on mentoring and supporting emerging women cricketers. In her farewell message, she expressed gratitude for the opportunities, experiences and relationships gained through cricket and reaffirmed her intention to contribute to the development of future women players.

Important Terms Explained:

• Women’s Premier League (WPL): India’s professional women’s T20 franchise cricket tournament, launched in 2023 by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to promote women’s cricket and develop domestic talent.
• One Day International (ODI): A limited-overs international cricket format in which each team generally plays a maximum of 50 overs.
• T20 International (T20I): An international cricket format in which each team generally plays a maximum of 20 overs, featuring faster-paced batting and bowling strategies.
• Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB): A Bengaluru-based cricket franchise whose women’s team won its maiden WPL championship in 2024 by defeating Delhi Capitals in the final.
• Gujarat Giants: An Ahmedabad-based women’s cricket franchise competing in the WPL, which S Meghana represented during her franchise career.
• Top-Order Batter: A specialist batter who generally bats among the first three or four positions in a team’s batting lineup and is responsible for building a strong innings foundation.
• White-Ball Cricket: Limited-overs cricket formats, primarily ODIs and T20Is, played using a white cricket ball.

Tabular Summary:

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6. When are the men’s and women’s cricket qualification tournaments for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games scheduled to take place?
A) January and February 2027
B) March and April 2027
C) January and February 2028
D) May and June 2028
E) June and July 2028
Answer: C) January and February 2028.

Event and Location:

• Event: The International Cricket Council (ICC) scheduled the men’s and women’s cricket qualification tournaments for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games (LA28) in January and February 2028, respectively, with eight teams participating in each qualifier to compete for the final Olympic qualification spot.
• Location: Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, with cricket matches scheduled at the Fairgrounds in Pomona, California, United States; qualification venues are yet to be announced.
• Date: Qualification schedule reported on 24 October 2026; men’s qualifier scheduled for January 2028 and women’s qualifier for February 2028.

Mandates and Objectives:

• Mandates: The ICC revised the Olympic cricket qualification schedule from 2027 to January–February 2028 for the six-team men’s and women’s T20 cricket competitions. Four teams from Africa, Asia, Europe and Oceania will qualify directly through continental ranking criteria, while the United States can secure the fifth automatic spot as host if it meets the top-15 T20 International (T20I) ranking requirement during the eligibility period from 30 June to 31 December 2026. If the USA fails to qualify, the men’s fifth spot will go to the highest-ranked eligible non-qualified team, while the women’s fifth spot will be determined by the fifth-place finisher at the ICC Women’s Champions Trophy 2027, scheduled in India from 14 to 28 February 2027. The final Olympic berth in each competition will be awarded through an eight-team qualifier involving seven highest-ranked eligible non-qualified teams and the Caribbean regional representative, subject to qualification rules.
• Objectives: The revised qualification system aims to ensure fair geographical representation, provide direct entry opportunities based on international rankings, establish eligibility criteria for the Olympic host nation and offer remaining teams a competitive pathway to qualification. The Olympic cricket competitions are scheduled from 12 to 29 July 2028, featuring six men’s and six women’s teams. Each competition is proposed to have two groups of three teams, followed by additional cross-group matches and medal matches, with squads limited to 15 players per team.

Important Terms Explained:

• International Cricket Council (ICC): The global governing body of cricket responsible for regulating international competitions, maintaining official rankings and coordinating qualification pathways for Olympic cricket.
• Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games (LA28): The Summer Olympic Games scheduled to take place in Los Angeles, United States, in 2028, marking cricket’s return to the Olympics after its previous appearance in 1900.
• T20 Cricket: A limited-overs cricket format in which each team generally plays a maximum of 20 overs, selected for both men’s and women’s competitions at the 2028 Olympics.
• ICC T20I Rankings: The official international ranking system used to assess the competitive performance of national teams in T20 International cricket and determine eligibility for direct Olympic qualification.
• Direct Qualification: A process through which eligible teams secure Olympic participation without competing in the final qualifying tournament, based on continental rankings or host-nation eligibility criteria.
• Host-Nation Qualification: A provision allowing the United States to receive an automatic Olympic cricket berth if its men’s or women’s team satisfies the specified top-15 ICC T20I ranking requirement during the eligibility period.
• ICC Women’s Champions Trophy 2027: A women’s international cricket competition scheduled in India from 14 to 28 February 2027, whose fifth-placed team is designated to receive the fifth Olympic qualification berth if the USA women’s team fails to qualify directly.
• Caribbean Regional Qualifier: A regional qualification competition providing an Olympic pathway for eligible Caribbean national teams, since the combined West Indies cricket team does not represent a single recognised Olympic National Olympic Committee.
• National Olympic Committee (NOC): An organisation recognised by the International Olympic Committee to represent a country or eligible territory in the Olympic Games.
• Eight-Team Olympic Qualifier: A qualification tournament involving eight eligible teams, with the winner securing the final available berth in the respective six-team Olympic cricket competition.
• Cross-Group Matches: Matches played between teams from different preliminary groups, included in the proposed LA28 Olympic cricket competition format before medal positions are determined.

Tabular Summary:

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7. Which two Indian chess grandmasters won individual gold medals at the European Chess Club Cup 2026 held in Montenegro?
A) Arjun Erigaisi and R Vaishali
B) Nihal Sarin and Koneru Humpy
C) D Gukesh and Divya Deshmukh
D) Pentala Harikrishna and Koneru Humpy
E) Praggnanandhaa and Harika Dronavalli
Answer: B) Nihal Sarin and Koneru Humpy.

Event and Location:

• Event: Indian chess grandmasters Nihal Sarin and Koneru Humpy won individual gold medals at the European Chess Club Cup 2026, while Pentala Harikrishna and Karthikeyan Murali secured silver and bronze medals, respectively.
• Location: Montenegro, Europe.
• Date: Results reported on 24 October 2026.

Mandates and Objectives:

• Mandates: Indian Grandmaster Nihal Sarin won the individual gold medal on Board 2 in the open section, representing Novy Bor Chess Club, with five points from six games, including four wins and two draws. His performance helped Novy Bor finish second in the team standings behind Bayegan Pendik Sports Club. Indian Grandmaster Koneru Humpy secured individual gold on Board 2 in the women’s section with 4.5 points from six games, helping Cercle d’Echecs de Monte-Carlo win the women’s team championship. Meanwhile, Pentala Harikrishna earned individual silver on Board 3 with five points from six games, while Karthikeyan Murali secured bronze on Board 2 with 4.5 points from six games for Team Electroprivreda. Arjun Erigaisi finished fourth in the individual Board 1 standings.
• Objectives: The European Chess Club Cup aims to promote international club-level chess competition, provide opportunities for grandmasters and other titled players to compete against leading opponents, and recognise both team achievements and individual board performances. Organised under the European Chess Union (ECU), the tournament features separate open and women’s competitions. The 2026 edition highlighted India’s strong representation in international chess through multiple individual medals and contributions to successful European club teams.

Important Terms Explained:

• European Chess Club Cup: An annual international club chess competition conducted under the European Chess Union, featuring leading European chess clubs in open and women’s team tournaments.
• European Chess Union (ECU): The continental governing organisation responsible for coordinating and promoting chess competitions and development activities across Europe.
• Grandmaster (GM): The highest standard over-the-board chess title awarded by the International Chess Federation (FIDE), generally requiring qualifying tournament norms and a standard rating of at least 2,500.
• Individual Board Medal: An award presented to a player for outstanding performance on a particular board in a team chess competition, based on the tournament’s prescribed performance criteria.
• Novy Bor Chess Club: A prominent Czech chess club represented by Nihal Sarin and Pentala Harikrishna at the 2026 European Chess Club Cup, finishing second in the open team competition.
• Cercle d’Echecs de Monte-Carlo: A Monaco-based chess club that won the women’s team championship at the European Chess Club Cup 2026, with Koneru Humpy contributing an individual gold-medal performance.
• Team Electroprivreda: A Montenegrin chess club represented by Karthikeyan Murali, which finished 11th in the open team standings at the 2026 tournament.
• Woman FIDE Master (WFM): A women-specific chess title awarded by FIDE, generally requiring a standard rating of at least 2,100 or qualification through specified championship results.
• Board Number: The designated playing position of a chess player within a team, used to determine individual matchups and board-wise performance awards.

Tabular Summary:

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8. When are the men’s and women’s cricket qualification tournaments for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games scheduled to take place?
A) January and February 2027
B) March and April 2027
C) January and February 2028
D) May and June 2028
E) June and July 2028
Answer: C) January and February 2028.

Event and Location:

• Event: The International Cricket Council (ICC) scheduled the men’s and women’s cricket qualifiers for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games (LA28) in January and February 2028, respectively, with eight teams competing in each qualifier for the final Olympic qualification spot.
• Location: Los Angeles, United States, with Olympic cricket matches scheduled at the Fairgrounds in Pomona, California; qualifying tournament venues are yet to be announced.
• Date: Schedule reported on 24 October 2026; men’s qualifier scheduled for January 2028 and women’s qualifier for February 2028.

Mandates and Objectives:

• Mandates: The ICC revised the Olympic cricket qualification schedule from 2027 to January–February 2028 for the six-team men’s and women’s T20 cricket competitions. Four teams from Africa, Asia, Europe and Oceania will qualify directly based on continental representation and ICC T20 International (T20I) Rankings. In women’s cricket, Australia, India, South Africa and Great Britain have already secured direct qualification. The United States can claim the fifth automatic berth as host if its respective team ranks within the top 15 during the eligibility period from 30 June to 31 December 2026. If the USA fails to qualify, the men’s fifth berth will go to the highest-ranked eligible non-qualified team, while the women’s fifth berth will go to the fifth-placed team at the ICC Women’s Champions Trophy 2027, scheduled in India from 14 to 28 February 2027. The final berth in each competition will be decided through an eight-team Olympic qualifier.
• Objectives: The qualification framework aims to ensure continental representation, provide opportunities for eligible teams through international rankings and establish transparent host-nation qualification criteria. Each eight-team qualifier will include seven highest-ranked eligible non-qualified teams and a Caribbean regional representative, subject to the prescribed eligibility conditions. The Olympic cricket tournament will take place from 12 to 29 July 2028, featuring six men’s and six women’s teams. The proposed competition format includes two groups of three teams, additional cross-group matches and separate gold- and bronze-medal matches, with each squad consisting of 15 players.

Important Terms Explained:

• Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games (LA28): The Summer Olympic Games scheduled in Los Angeles, United States, in 2028, marking cricket’s return to the Olympics after its previous appearance in 1900.
• T20 Cricket: A limited-overs cricket format in which each team generally plays a maximum of 20 overs, selected for both men’s and women’s Olympic competitions.
• ICC T20I Rankings: The official international ranking system maintained by the ICC to assess national teams’ performances in T20 International cricket and determine eligibility for direct Olympic qualification.
• Direct Qualification: A process allowing eligible teams to enter the Olympic competition without participating in the final qualifying tournament, based on regional rankings or host-nation criteria.
• Host-Nation Qualification: A provision allowing the United States to secure an automatic berth if its men’s or women’s team meets the top-15 ICC T20I ranking requirement during the specified 2026 eligibility period.
• ICC Women’s Champions Trophy 2027: A women’s international cricket tournament scheduled in India from 14 to 28 February 2027, whose fifth-placed team will receive the fifth Olympic berth if the USA women’s team fails to qualify directly.
• Caribbean Regional Qualifier: A regional competition providing eligible Caribbean national teams with a pathway to Olympic qualification because the combined West Indies cricket team does not represent a single recognised Olympic nation.
• National Olympic Committee (NOC): An organisation recognised by the International Olympic Committee to represent a country or eligible territory in the Olympic Games.
• Eight-Team Olympic Qualifier: A qualification tournament involving eight eligible teams, with the winner securing the final available berth in the respective six-team Olympic cricket competition.
• Cross-Group Matches: Matches played between teams from different preliminary groups, included in the proposed Olympic cricket format to help determine the final standings and medal contenders.

Tabular Summary:

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Awards – Daily Current Affairs October 24–25

9. Which Indian theoretical physicist became the first Indian to receive the Oskar Klein Medal in 2026 for groundbreaking contributions to string theory and black-hole physics?
A) C N R Rao
B) Jayant Narlikar
C) Ashoke Sen
D) Thanu Padmanabhan
E) Abhay Ashtekar
Answer: C) Ashoke Sen.

Event and Location:

• Event: Indian theoretical physicist Ashoke Sen became the first Indian physicist to receive the Oskar Klein Medal 2026, recognising his pioneering contributions to string theory, S-duality, black-hole entropy and string field theory.
• Location: Stockholm University, Sweden; Ashoke Sen is associated with the International Centre for Theoretical Sciences (ICTS), Bengaluru, India.
• Date: 22 October 2026, when Sen delivered the Oskar Klein Memorial Lecture at Stockholm University’s AlbaNova Centre.

Mandates and Objectives:

• Mandates: Ashoke Sen was honoured with the Oskar Klein Medal 2026, an international physics award established in 1988 and associated with Stockholm University and the Nobel Committee for Physics of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. The award recognises his significant contributions to theoretical physics, particularly string theory, S-duality, black-hole entropy and string field theory. He serves as the ICTS-Infosys Madhava Chair Professor at the International Centre for Theoretical Sciences in Bengaluru. As part of the recognition, Sen delivered the Oskar Klein Memorial Lecture titled “Gravity from Strings and Strings from Gravity” on 22 October 2026 at Stockholm University’s AlbaNova Centre. His previous distinctions include the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize (1994), Padma Shri (2001), Infosys Prize (2009), Fundamental Physics Breakthrough Prize (2012), Padma Bhushan (2013) and Dirac Medal (2014).
• Objectives: The Oskar Klein Medal recognises outstanding achievements in theoretical physics and promotes scientific research into fundamental physical laws. Sen’s work has contributed to understanding the relationship between quantum theory and gravity, the microscopic origins of black-hole entropy, and mathematical connections between strongly and weakly interacting physical systems. The recognition also highlights India’s contributions to advanced theoretical physics and international scientific research.

Important Terms Explained:

• Oskar Klein Medal: An international theoretical physics award established in 1988 and named after Swedish physicist Oskar Klein, recognising outstanding contributions to fundamental physics.
• Stockholm University: A major Swedish research university associated with the Oskar Klein Memorial Lecture and the recognition of leading theoretical physicists.
• International Centre for Theoretical Sciences (ICTS): A Bengaluru-based research centre under the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research that promotes advanced research in theoretical sciences, including physics and mathematics.
• String Theory: A theoretical framework proposing that fundamental particles can be described as tiny vibrating strings rather than point-like objects, offering a possible approach to unifying quantum mechanics and gravity.
• S-Duality: A theoretical relationship connecting strongly coupled and weakly coupled descriptions of physical systems, enabling difficult interactions to be studied through mathematically equivalent formulations.
• Black-Hole Entropy: A measure of the microscopic quantum states associated with a black hole’s macroscopic properties, playing an important role in understanding the relationship between gravity, thermodynamics and quantum mechanics.
• String Field Theory: A mathematical framework that describes interacting strings using fields and helps researchers investigate the dynamics and fundamental properties of string theory.
• Oskar Klein Memorial Lecture: A distinguished scientific lecture associated with the Oskar Klein Medal, delivered by the selected physicist to present significant research findings in theoretical physics.
• Fundamental Physics Breakthrough Prize: An international scientific award recognising major achievements in fundamental physics, received by Ashoke Sen in 2012 for his contributions to string theory.
• Dirac Medal: An international recognition in theoretical physics awarded by the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, received by Ashoke Sen in 2014.

Tabular Summary:

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10. Who has been selected as the first recipient of the Dr Bhupen Hazarika National Award, instituted by the Assam Government in 2026?
A) Asha Bhosle
B) Usha Mangeshkar
C) Shreya Ghoshal
D) Kavita Krishnamurthy
E) Anuradha Paudwal
Answer: B) Usha Mangeshkar.

Event and Location:

• Event: The Assam Cabinet announced the institution of the Bharat Ratna Dr Bhupen Hazarika National Award, naming renowned singer Usha Mangeshkar as its inaugural recipient for her contributions to Indian music and cultural heritage.
• Location: Assam, India; the inaugural award ceremony is scheduled at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
• Date: Announced on 24 October 2026, with the award presentation scheduled for 29 November 2026.

Mandates and Objectives:

• Mandates: The Assam Cabinet approved the introduction of the Bharat Ratna Dr Bhupen Hazarika National Award to recognise distinguished personalities in music, arts and cinema who have achieved national or international recognition. Usha Mangeshkar was selected as the first recipient in recognition of her musical contributions and association with Bhupen Hazarika’s compositions. The award is scheduled to be presented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 29 November 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, during the concluding ceremony of Dr Bhupen Hazarika’s Birth Centenary Celebrations. The Cabinet also increased the cash prize of the Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev Award from ₹10 lakh to ₹15 lakh and finalised the recipients of the Assam Civilian Awards 2025, including Assam Baibhav, Assam Saurav and Assam Gaurav.
• Objectives: The initiative aims to preserve the musical and cultural legacy of Bharat Ratna Dr Bhupen Hazarika, honour outstanding achievements in music, arts and cinema, and promote Assam’s cultural heritage at the national level. The enhancement of the Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev Award seeks to strengthen recognition of cultural excellence. The state civilian awards recognise contributions across healthcare, wildlife conservation, arts, sports, agriculture, entrepreneurship and social service.

Important Terms Explained:

• Bharat Ratna Dr Bhupen Hazarika National Award: A national-level recognition instituted by the Assam Government to honour distinguished individuals in music, arts and cinema, commemorating the legacy of Assamese singer, composer, lyricist and filmmaker Bhupen Hazarika.
• Dr Bhupen Hazarika: An acclaimed Assamese singer, composer, lyricist and filmmaker known for combining music with themes of humanity, social justice and cultural unity, who was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna in 2019.
• Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev Award: A cultural honour associated with Assam and named after the renowned saint and social reformer Srimanta Sankardev, with its cash prize increased from ₹10 lakh to ₹15 lakh.
• Srimanta Sankardev: A 15th–16th century Assamese saint, scholar, poet, playwright and social reformer who played a major role in spreading the Neo-Vaishnavite movement in Assam.
• Neo-Vaishnavite Movement: A religious and social reform movement associated with Srimanta Sankardev that promoted devotion to Lord Vishnu, spiritual equality, community participation and cultural expression.
• Assam Baibhav Award: The highest civilian award of Assam, recognising exceptional contributions to society and outstanding achievements in various fields.
• Assam Saurav Award: A state civilian honour recognising distinguished individuals for significant contributions to fields such as wildlife conservation, veterinary science, arts, culture and music.
• Assam Gaurav Award: A civilian recognition presented by the Assam Government to individuals and organisations for contributions to social service, sports, agriculture, entrepreneurship and other sectors.
• Assam Civilian Awards 2025: State-level honours recognising outstanding achievements across different sectors, with Dr Harsha Bhattacharjee selected for Assam Baibhav, four individuals for Assam Saurav and 12 recipients for Assam Gaurav.

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11. Which Argentine footballer became the first individual football player to receive the Princess of Asturias Award for Sports in 2026?
A) Cristiano Ronaldo
B) Neymar Jr
C) Lionel Messi
D) Kylian Mbappé
E) Luka Modrić
Answer: C) Lionel Messi.

Event and Location:

• Event: Argentine football legend Lionel Messi received the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for Sports, becoming the first footballer to receive the prestigious honour individually in recognition of his sporting achievements, sportsmanship and humanitarian contributions.
• Location: Teatro Campoamor, Oviedo, Asturias, Spain.
• Date: 23 October 2026.

Mandates and Objectives:

• Mandates: Lionel Messi was honoured with the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for Sports after being selected by the award jury on 3 June 2026 from 27 nominations representing 12 nationalities. The jury recognised his exceptional football career, consistency, humility, teamwork and charitable contributions towards disadvantaged children. His achievements include winning the 2022 FIFA World Cup with Argentina, four UEFA Champions League titles, 10 La Liga titles, eight Ballon d’Or awards and six European Golden Shoes. The award citation credited him with 47 team titles. Messi has also served as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2010 and established the Leo Messi Foundation to support children’s education, healthcare and welfare.
• Objectives: The Princess of Asturias Awards aim to recognise outstanding achievements by individuals and organisations in sports, arts, literature, science, international cooperation and other fields. Messi’s recognition highlights sporting excellence, teamwork, humility and social responsibility. Established in 1981, the awards are presented annually by the Princess of Asturias Foundation in Spain across eight categories. Each award includes a sculpture designed by Joan Miró, a diploma, an insignia and a cash prize of €50,000.

Important Terms Explained:

• Princess of Asturias Award for Sports: An annual Spanish honour recognising exceptional achievements and contributions to sports, presented as part of the Princess of Asturias Awards established in 1981.
• Princess of Asturias Foundation: A Spanish institution responsible for organising the annual Princess of Asturias Awards across eight categories, including sports, arts, literature, science and international cooperation.
• FIFA World Cup: The premier international men’s football tournament organised by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association, won by Argentina under Lionel Messi’s captaincy in 2022.
• UEFA Champions League: Europe’s leading annual club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations, which Messi won four times with FC Barcelona.
• La Liga: Spain’s top professional football league, in which Messi won 10 championship titles while representing FC Barcelona.
• Ballon d’Or: A prestigious individual football award recognising outstanding player performances, which Lionel Messi has won a record eight times.
• European Golden Shoe: An annual football award presented to the leading goalscorer across European domestic leagues based on a weighted points system, won six times by Messi.
• UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador: A public figure appointed by the United Nations Children’s Fund to promote children’s rights, welfare, education and healthcare through advocacy and humanitarian initiatives.
• Leo Messi Foundation: A charitable organisation established by Lionel Messi to support vulnerable children, particularly through initiatives related to healthcare, education and social development.
• Teatro Campoamor: A historic theatre located in Oviedo, Spain, which serves as the traditional venue for the annual Princess of Asturias Awards ceremony.

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Schemes – Daily Current Affairs October 24–25

12. Which state secured the first position in Mission Karmayogi implementation in 2026, with its Home Department completing over one crore training courses?
A) Rajasthan
B) Madhya Pradesh
C) Uttar Pradesh
D) Maharashtra
E) Gujarat
Answer: C) Uttar Pradesh.

Event and Location:

• Event: Uttar Pradesh secured the first position in Mission Karmayogi 2026 implementation, while its Home Department completed over one crore training courses and ranked first in Category A at the Northern Regional Workshop.
• Location: Uttar Pradesh, India, during the Northern Regional Workshop jointly organised by the Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Uttar Pradesh Academy of Administration and Management and the Capacity Building Commission.
• Date: 24 October 2026, as reported.

Mandates and Objectives:

• Mandates: Uttar Pradesh was recognised as the best-performing state in implementing Mission Karmayogi, also known as the National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building (NPCSCB), which was approved by the Union Cabinet in September 2020. The state secured the first position, followed by Rajasthan in second place and Jammu and Kashmir in third place. Uttar Pradesh recorded 19.23 lakh registered users on the iGOT Karmayogi Platform, with more than 99% active participation. Over 350 training institutions and units were registered under the UNNATI initiative. The Home Department secured first place in Category A after completing more than one crore training courses, while the Basic and Secondary Education Department ranked second. The Capacity Building Commission (CBC) also launched the Unnati Capability Index and National Curriculum Design Framework (NCDF) to strengthen institutional assessment and training quality.
• Objectives: Mission Karmayogi aims to transform civil services training from a rule-based approach to a role-based and competency-based system through continuous digital learning. The initiative focuses on strengthening the knowledge, skills and attitudes of government employees, improving administrative efficiency and enhancing public service delivery. The newly launched Unnati Capability Index aims to evaluate training institutions through a star-rating system, faculty and curriculum assessments, infrastructure reviews and artificial intelligence-based gap identification. Uttar Pradesh also promoted capacity-building initiatives such as Nirbhay Netri, Nirbhay Chetna, Kaushal Setu and Kaushal Sarathi to improve institutional and employee competencies.

Important Terms Explained:

• Mission Karmayogi: A Government of India programme approved in September 2020 to strengthen civil servants’ skills through competency-based training, continuous learning and improved administrative capacity.
• National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building (NPCSCB): The official framework of Mission Karmayogi designed to shift civil services training from rule-based procedures to role-based competency development.
• iGOT Karmayogi Platform: An integrated digital learning platform providing online courses, training modules and competency-building resources to government employees.
• Capacity Building Commission (CBC): A government body established in 2021 under Mission Karmayogi to coordinate and strengthen capacity-building programmes and training standards for civil servants.
• UNNATI Initiative: A capacity-building initiative associated with government training institutions and units in Uttar Pradesh, with more than 350 institutions and units registered.
• Unnati Capability Index: An institutional assessment framework launched by the CBC to evaluate government training institutions through star ratings, faculty assessment, curriculum quality, infrastructure reviews and continuous improvement measures.
• National Curriculum Design Framework (NCDF): A framework launched by the CBC to improve the design, relevance, consistency and effectiveness of training curricula for government employees.
• Competency-Based Training: A professional development approach focused on building the knowledge, practical skills and behavioural attributes required to perform specific official responsibilities.
• Sadhana Saptah: A capacity-building initiative in which Uttar Pradesh participated to strengthen continuous learning and professional development among government personnel.
• Nirbhay Netri, Nirbhay Chetna, Kaushal Setu and Kaushal Sarathi: Capacity-building initiatives highlighted by Uttar Pradesh as examples of programmes aimed at strengthening employee skills and institutional capabilities.

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