Daily Current Affairs – 24 October 2026

India finishes 4th at the Asian Para Games with a near-record 100+ medal haul, the Jio Platforms IPO lists today as India’s biggest-ever public issue, Rajnath Singh releases the Army’s new Land Warfare Doctrine, the J&K Accession Day falls tomorrow, and today is United Nations Day and World Polio Day. Here is the news that matters for competitive exams.

India – National Affairs

India and Poland forge closer ties; trade target of USD 12 billion by 2030

After summit talks at Hyderabad House, New Delhi on 22 October 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk agreed to double bilateral trade from the current approximately USD 6 billion to USD 12 billion by 2030, and set up new structured dialogues in defence industry and counter-terrorism - the most substantive India-Poland engagement since the two countries elevated relations to a Strategic Partnership in August 2024.

Key outcomes of the summit

• Trade target: USD 6 billion → USD 12 billion by 2030; focus sectors include machinery, chemicals, plastics, and engineering goods.
• Defence industry dialogue and a counter-terrorism dialogue formally agreed.
• Joint statement urged early signing, ratification and implementation of the EU–India Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
• Leaders agreed to resume the bilateral agriculture working group and explore more direct flights between the two countries (civil aviation authorities to hold talks).
• Cooperation through the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) was emphasised.
• Modi reiterated India’s support for every meaningful effort to bring peace to Ukraine and West Asia.
• PM Tusk visited Bengaluru for the 2nd India–Poland Business Forum.

Exam note: India and Poland established a Strategic Partnership in August 2024 - Poland is India’s largest trading partner in Central and Eastern Europe. IMEC was announced at the G20 New Delhi Summit (September 2023); it links India to Europe via the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Israel. The EU–India FTA negotiations were relaunched in June 2022 after a 9-year gap. Poland’s capital: Warsaw. Poland joined NATO in 1999 and the EU in 2004. Poland PM: Donald Tusk (took office December 2023, leading the Civic Coalition). India’s EAM: S. Jaishankar. India’s Ambassador to Poland: Nagma Mallick.

Ladakh: all eight districts to get Autonomous Hill Councils under LAHDC Amendment

Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena notified the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDC) (Amendment) Regulation, 2026, effective 19 October 2026, enabling a Hill Council in each of Ladakh’s eight districts - a significant step toward grassroots democratic governance in the Union Territory that has been demanding Statehood and Sixth Schedule status.

Key details

• Union Cabinet approved the amendments on 14 October 2026.
• President Droupadi Murmu promulgated the regulation on 16 October 2026 - a six-day process from Cabinet to gazette notification.
• The amendment enables Hill Councils in all 8 districts, including the newly created Sankoo (announced as Ladakh’s 8th district on 16 October 2026). The five newly created districts - Sham, Nubra, Changthang, Zanskar, and Drass - were carved out on 27 April 2026.
• Until now, only Leh (LAHDC established 1995) and Kargil (LAHDC established 2003) had Autonomous Hill Councils.
• Seats: The fixed 26-seat structure per council is replaced by a flexible range of minimum 7 to maximum 24 seats; delimitation of constituencies is to be completed before elections are held.
• The word ‘Governor’ is replaced by ‘Administrator’ (the Administrator of the UT of Ladakh appointed by the President under Article 239) throughout the LAHDC Act, 1997.

Exam note: Ladakh was bifurcated from Jammu & Kashmir as a Union Territory without legislature on 31 October 2019 (effective date) under the J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019, alongside J&K UT (with legislature). Ladakh’s area: 59,146 sq km - India’s largest district/UT by area. Ladakh’s capital: Leh. Ladakh LG: Vinai Kumar Saxena (also LG of Delhi). The Sixth Schedule of the Constitution provides for Autonomous District Councils in tribal areas of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram - Ladakh’s political parties have demanded inclusion in the Sixth Schedule. Article 239 of the Constitution deals with administration of UTs.

Three new sites added to India’s UNESCO Tentative List; tally reaches 81

The Permanent Delegation of India to UNESCO announced on 20 October 2026 that three new sites have been added to India’s Tentative List for UNESCO World Heritage status (submitted on 28 September 2026):

1. Karst-Mud-Volcano Complex of Baratang (Andaman & Nicobar Islands) - proposed as a Natural Site.
2. Andaman Subduction Volcanoes - Narcondam Island and Barren Island (Andaman & Nicobar Islands) - proposed as a Natural Site.
3. Sirpur Cultural and Archaeological Landscape (Chhattisgarh) - proposed as a Cultural Site; the famous Lakshmana Temple at Sirpur dates from the 7th century CE.

India’s Tentative List now stands at 81 sites (five more were added earlier in October, taking the tally from 75 to 78, and these three additions bring it to 81). India currently has 45 UNESCO World Heritage Sites after Sarnath (Uttar Pradesh) was inscribed in July 2026.

Exam note: Being on the Tentative List is a mandatory prerequisite for a subsequent nomination to the World Heritage List - it does not confer World Heritage status. The World Heritage Convention (Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage) was adopted by UNESCO in 1972. UNESCO HQ: Paris, France. UNESCO DG: Audrey Azoulay (France). Barren Island holds India’s only confirmed active volcano (located in the Andaman Sea). India’s first World Heritage Site: Agra Fort (1983, along with Ajanta Caves and Ellora Caves). India’s latest WHS before Sarnath: Hoysala Temples (2023, Karnataka).

PM Modi inaugurates Chinmaya Amrit Mahotsav Global Sammelan

Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the Chinmaya Amrit Mahotsav Global Sammelan at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi on 23 October 2026. The three-day event (23–25 October) marks the centenary of Swami Chinmayananda (born 8 May 1916), founder of the Chinmaya Mission, and is expected to bring over 9,000 participants from India and abroad. Bharat Mandapam is India’s largest convention and exhibition centre, located at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, inaugurated by PM Modi on 26 July 2023.

Other national headlines

• The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs held the 19th Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference and Exhibition in Bhubaneswar, Odisha on 23–24 October 2026.
• The Green Diwali Campaign 2026 (20 October–8 November) promoting cracker-free celebrations under Mission LiFE covers 130 cities under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP); a Carbon Footprint Survey was launched alongside it.
• The Fisheries Investors & Exporters Conclave 2026 was held in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh on 23 October.

Daily Current Affairs 24 October 2026 – Download Free PDF Here

Economy & Banking

Jio Platforms IPO - India’s largest-ever - lists today

The Jio Platforms Initial Public Offering (IPO) - India’s biggest-ever public issue at ₹30,213 crore - lists on the BSE and NSE today, 24 October 2026, approximately 5 days after the issue closed on 23 October. It surpasses the previous record held by Hyundai Motor India (₹27,870 crore, October 2024).

Key IPO details

Exam note: Jio Platforms Limited is a subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL); it is the parent company of Reliance Jio Infocomm (India’s largest telecom operator by subscribers - approximately 48 crore as of September 2026), JioSaavn, JioCinema, JioMart, and other digital platforms. RIL Chairman: Mukesh Ambani. Jio was launched commercially on 5 September 2016. SEBI regulates IPOs in India under the SEBI (ICDR) Regulations, 2018. IPO allotment date: approximately 27 October; listing: 28 October (some sources say 24 October - listing date pending confirmation at time of writing). BSE (Bombay Stock Exchange, est. 1875) is Asia’s oldest stock exchange. SEBI Chairperson: Tuhin Kanta Pandey.

India–New Zealand MoC on electronic origin data exchange

India and New Zealand signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) to enable the electronic exchange of origin data for trade in goods - strengthening customs coordination under the India–New Zealand FTA that came into force on 20 October 2026. The agreement - described as India’s 17th Free Trade Agreement - also allows 1,000 young Indians to work in New Zealand for up to one year under a dedicated mobility arrangement.

Exam note: India’s other recent FTAs: UAE CEPA (May 2022), Australia ECTA (December 2022), and four-nation EFTA deal (March 2024 - Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein). India’s FTA negotiations are conducted by the DPIIT and Ministry of Commerce and Industry. New Zealand PM: Christopher Luxon (National Party). India–New Zealand bilateral trade: approximately USD 900 million (pre-FTA). New Zealand capital: Wellington. New Zealand’s largest city: Auckland.

Sovereign Gold Bond 2018-19 Series-II redeemed at ₹14,425 per unit

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced a final redemption price of ₹14,425 per unit for the Sovereign Gold Bond (SGB) 2018-19 Series-II, maturing on 23 October 2026. Investors who subscribed at the issue price of approximately ₹3,135–3,199/unit (2018 issue) would have received approximately 4.5x returns over the 8-year tenure, excluding the annual 2.5% interest paid semi-annually.

Exam note: The Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme was launched in November 2015 by the Government of India, administered by the RBI. SGBs are issued as Government of India Stock under the GS Act 2006. Tenure: 8 years with exit option from the 5th year onward on interest payment dates. Interest rate: 2.50% per annum on the initial investment value, paid semi-annually. SGBs are exempt from Capital Gains Tax if held to maturity. The RBI also announced an underwriting auction for government securities worth ₹33,000 crore on 23 October 2026.

Recap: Economy and banking highlights

• MPC Minutes (21 October): The October MPC vote on the repo rate hike to 5.50% was unanimous (6-0), but the shift to ‘calibrated tightening’ stance was approved 4-2 - Nagesh Kumar and Ram Singh preferred retaining a neutral stance.
• Maersk selected L&T’s Kattupalli Shipyard near Chennai for its first planned drydocking in India (commenced 20 October) - a boost to India’s ship-repair industry.
• Vultr (USA) announced a 20 MW AI supercluster in Chennai built on AMD Instinct MI355X GPUs - India’s largest cloud-based AI compute cluster by a US company to date.

Science & Technology

ISRO conducts IMAT-05 - fifth integrated parachute test for Gaganyaan

ISRO successfully conducted IMAT-05 - the fifth Integrated Main Parachute Airdrop Test for the Gaganyaan Human Spaceflight Programme - at the Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE), Sheopur, Madhya Pradesh. The test validates the 10-stage parachute deployment sequence that decelerates the Gaganyaan Crew Module from supersonic speeds before splashdown in the Arabian Sea.

Exam note: Gaganyaan is India’s first crewed spaceflight programme - it will send 2–3 Indian astronauts (Gaganauts) to low Earth orbit (LEO) at an altitude of 400 km for up to 3 days. The four designated Gaganauts are: Group Captain Prashanth Balakrishnan Nair (Mission Commander), Group Captain Ajit Krishnan, Group Captain Angad Pratap, and Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla (flew to ISS on Axiom Mission-4 in June 2025). ISRO Chairman: S. Somanath. ADRDE (Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment) is a DRDO lab in Agra, Uttar Pradesh (the Sheopur test site is an airdrop range in MP). ISRO’s SOLVE (Sub-Orbital Launch Vehicle for Experiments) - for parachute tests at 10–17 km altitude - was first tested in September 2026.

CSIR demonstrates indigenous MSS+ road technology at Jaipur

CSIR (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research) demonstrated its indigenous Modified Mix Seal Surfacing Plus (MSS+) road resurfacing technology at Jaipur, Rajasthan. The technology is already deployed on over 100 km of roads in Uttar Pradesh and is designed for faster, more durable road maintenance using modified bitumen - significantly reducing road repair cycles.

Exam note: CSIR was established in 1942 under the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR); it has 37 constituent laboratories across India. CSIR DG: N. Kalaiselvi (India’s first woman DG of CSIR, appointed August 2022). CSIR is under the Ministry of Science and Technology. CRRI (Central Road Research Institute), New Delhi, is the CSIR lab responsible for road technology research.

Recap: Science & technology this week

• DRDO conducted a Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) test on a live defence network at PXE Chandipur, Odisha on 14 October - a milestone in India’s quantum-secured military communications programme.
• ISRO successfully ignited a key component of its LOX-methane LME-1100 engine (thrust: 1,100 kN) - ISRO’s most powerful upper-stage engine for future heavy-lift and deep-space missions.

Defence & Security

Rajnath Singh releases India’s new Land Warfare Doctrine at Army Commanders’ Conference

The Army Commanders’ Conference - the Indian Army’s apex biannual forum - concluded in New Delhi on 21–23 October 2026, chaired by Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh delivered the concluding address and released the new Land Warfare Doctrine 2026 - replacing the Land Warfare Doctrine 2018 - providing an overarching framework for the Army to prepare for future conflicts characterised by drones, autonomous systems, artificial intelligence, cyber warfare, and precision-guided munitions.

Key highlights of the Army Commanders’ Conference

• The Minister also unveiled the annual United Nations Journal and felicitated personnel for UN peacekeeping service.
• Army Chief General Seth presented awards for environmental sustainability, resource management, and aviation safety.
• The Navy Chief and the MeitY Secretary also addressed the conference.
• The new doctrine is intended to integrate lessons from the Russia-Ukraine War, Israel-Hamas conflict, and other recent conflicts into India’s warfighting philosophy.

Exam note: The Army Commanders’ Conference is held twice a year - in April and October - and brings together all Army Commanders, PSOs (Principal Staff Officers), and senior military leadership. India has 7 Army Commands: Northern (Udhampur), Western (Chandimandir), South Western (Jaipur), Southern (Pune), Eastern (Kolkata), Central (Lucknow), and Army Training Command - ARTRAC (Shimla). COAS: General Dhiraj Seth (assumed office 30 September 2024, succeeding General Upendra Dwivedi). Previous Land Warfare Doctrine: released in 2018 under COAS General Bipin Rawat. Defence Minister: Rajnath Singh.

MoD signs ₹770 crore contract with BEL for Improved LLLR-I anti-drone radar

The Ministry of Defence signed a ₹770 crore contract with BEL (Bharat Electronics Limited) on 21 October 2026 for the Improved Low-Level Light-Weight Radar (LLLR-I) - specifically designed to detect small drone threats for the Indian Army. The radar can track micro, mini, and nano UAVs at low altitudes and in cluttered terrain environments.

Exam note: BEL (Bharat Electronics Limited) is a Navratna CPSU under the Ministry of Defence; BEL HQ: Bengaluru; BEL CMD: Bhanu Prakash Srivastava. India’s counter-drone (C-UAS) capability is being rapidly expanded following lessons from multiple conflict zones; DRDO’s AKASH TARANG and LASER-based DEW systems are the other key C-UAS programmes. India’s defence capital procurement budget for 2026-27: approximately ₹1.72 lakh crore.

Military exercises under way

• AUSTRAHIND 2026 (5th edition): India–Australia Army exercise at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala (19 October–1 November); approximately 120 personnel each side; New Zealand observers participating for the first time.
• SIMBEX-2026 (33rd edition): India–Singapore bilateral naval exercise at Visakhapatnam (21–26 October); harbour phase concluded 23 October; sea phase begins 24 October in the Bay of Bengal with anti-submarine, anti-surface, and anti-air drills.
• CISF restructuring: The Central Industrial Security Force is being restructured into sector-specific functional commands, effective 1 November 2026.

Exam note: SIMBEX (Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise) began in 1994 - one of India’s longest-running bilateral naval exercises; AUSTRAHIND began in 2022. CISF (Central Industrial Security Force) was established on 10 March 1969 under the CISF Act, 1968; CISF is under MHA; CISF DG: Rajwinder Singh Bhatti; CISF currently guards approximately 359 establishments including nuclear installations, airports, seaports, and government buildings.

Sports

Asian Para Games 2026 - India finish 4th with record medal haul; Games end today

The 2026 Asian Para Games at Aichi-Nagoya, Japan conclude today (24 October 2026). India posted their best-ever performance at the Asian Para Games, finishing 4th in the overall standings with a final tally that surpassed the previous record of 111 medals (29 Gold) at Hangzhou 2023.

India’s medal tally heading into the final day (after Day 4 - 22 October)

• Sheetal Devi (para archery, Jammu & Kashmir) won two golds on 22 October - Women’s Compound Individual and Compound Mixed Team (with Toman Kumar); she is India’s most celebrated para-archer, born without arms and shooting with her feet.
• Suvarna Raj won Gold in Women’s Discus Throw F54 (athletics).
• Dilip Gavit and Shailesh Kumar also won Athletics golds on Day 4.
• Para athletics has been India’s strongest discipline - 52 medals (18G, 16S, 18B) from athletics alone.
• Medals also came from para badminton, para table tennis, and para swimming.
• India were 12 medals short of 100 heading into the final day.

Exam note: The Asian Para Games are organised by the Asian Paralympic Committee (APC), HQ: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The 2026 Asian Para Games are hosted by Aichi-Nagoya, Japan - 18–24 October 2026. India’s flagbearers: Pramod Bhagat (para badminton) and Bhavina Patel (para table tennis). India’s previous best: 111 medals (29G) at Hangzhou 2023. India’s Paralympic Committee: Paralympic Committee of India (PCI), HQ: New Delhi. Sheetal Devi was awarded the Arjuna Award (2023) and is the first armless archer to win a World Cup medal (2022). The 2030 Asian Para Games will be hosted by Doha, Qatar.

Coming up in sports

• Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026: Ahmedabad, 23–31 October.
• Asian Champions Trophy (Hockey): Punjab, 27 October–5 November.
• Summer Youth Olympics (Dakar 2026): Dakar, Senegal, 31 October–13 November - first Olympics ever hosted on African soil.

Exam note: The Summer Youth Olympics is organised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC); it is held every 4 years for athletes aged 15–18; the 1st edition was held in Singapore in 2010; Dakar 2026 is the 5th edition. IOC HQ: Lausanne, Switzerland. IOC President: Kirsty Coventry (Zimbabwe, elected March 2025 - first African and first woman to lead the IOC). India’s Olympic body: Indian Olympic Association (IOA), HQ: New Delhi; IOA President: P.T. Usha.

Important Days

24 October – United Nations Day (81st Anniversary)

United Nations Day is observed globally on 24 October every year, marking the anniversary of the entry into force of the UN Charter on 24 October 1945 - the day the UN officially came into existence. The 2026 theme is “Our Common Future: The United Nations at 81 - Delivering for People and Planet.”

Exam note: The United Nations (UN) was formally established on 24 October 1945 after the UN Charter was ratified by the five permanent members of the Security Council (China, France, USSR/Russia, UK, USA) and a majority of other signatories; the Charter was signed earlier at the San Francisco Conference on 26 June 1945. UN HQ: New York, USA (also offices in Geneva, Vienna, and Nairobi). UN Secretary-General: António Guterres (Portugal, 2nd term, 2022–2026; re-elected for 3rd term, effective January 2027). The UN has 193 member states; the most recent member: South Sudan (2011). The UN has 6 principal organs: General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Trusteeship Council (inactive since 1994), International Court of Justice (ICJ), and the Secretariat. UN Day has been observed since 1948; UNGA proclaimed it an international holiday in 1971. India is a founding member of the UN (signed the Charter in 1945). India’s Permanent Representative to the UN: P. Harish (as of 2026).

24 October – World Polio Day 2026

World Polio Day is observed globally on 24 October every year, established by Rotary International to mark the birthday of Jonas Salk (born 28 October 1914) - the American virologist who developed the first safe and effective inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) in 1955. The 2026 theme is “End Polio: For Every Child, For All Time.”

Exam note: Poliomyelitis (Polio) is a highly infectious viral disease caused by the poliovirus (3 serotypes: Type 1, Type 2, Type 3); it primarily affects children under 5. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) was launched in 1988 by WHO, Rotary International, CDC, and UNICEF - with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation joining later. India was declared Polio-free by WHO on 27 March 2014 - after 3 consecutive years with no wild poliovirus case (last case: 13 January 2011, Howrah, West Bengal). Globally, wild poliovirus transmission persists only in Afghanistan and Pakistan (as of 2026). Two types of polio vaccine: OPV (Oral Polio Vaccine - Sabin vaccine) and IPV (Inactivated Polio Vaccine - Salk vaccine). India administers polio vaccines through Pulse Polio Immunisation (PPI) and the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP). Rotary International HQ: Evanston, Illinois, USA. WHO HQ: Geneva, Switzerland. WHO DG: Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Coming up – Important days ahead

Exam note: J&K Accession Day (26 October): Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession on 26 October 1947, acceding Jammu & Kashmir to India, following the Pakistani tribal invasion of 22 October 1947. Infantry Day (27 October): Marks the airlift of the 1st Sikh Regiment of the Indian Army to Srinagar on 27 October 1947 to defend J&K - India’s first military operation post-Independence. National Unity Day (31 October): First observed in 2014 to honour Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel - Iron Man of India, India’s first Deputy PM and Home Minister, who integrated 562 princely states into the Indian Union; the Statue of Unity (world’s tallest statue at 182 m) at Kevadia, Gujarat (built by L&T, inaugurated 31 October 2018) commemorates Patel.

Recap - Important days observed this week

Exam note: Azad Hind Government (Provisional Government of Free India) was established by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on 21 October 1943 in Singapore. Police Commemoration Day (21 October) marks the ambush of a CRPF patrol by Chinese forces in Hot Springs, Ladakh on 21 October 1959 - the first action in which Indian Police/Paramilitary personnel were killed in the line of duty post-Independence. Bishkek Declaration was signed by 12 snow leopard range countries - Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, and Tajikistan - in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan on 23 October 2013. Snow leopard is the state animal of Himachal Pradesh and the animal symbol of Ladakh. India’s snow leopard population: approximately 500–700 (Project Snow Leopard, launched 2009).

Quick Revision – One-Liners

• India–Poland Summit (22 Oct): trade target USD 6 bn → USD 12 bn by 2030; new defence industry and counter-terrorism dialogues; support for EU–India FTA; connectivity via IMEC.
• LAHDC Amendment Regulation, 2026: Cabinet - 14 Oct; President - 16 Oct; effective - 19 Oct; Hill Councils in all 8 Ladakh districts; seats 26 fixed → min 7, max 24; ‘Governor’ → ‘Administrator’; UT sans legislature since 31 October 2019.
• Ladakh’s 8th district: Sankoo (announced 16 October 2026); five new districts created 27 April 2026: Sham, Nubra, Changthang, Zanskar, Drass.
• UNESCO Tentative List (India): 3 new additions announced 20 October - Baratang karst complex, Andaman Subduction Volcanoes (Narcondam + Barren Island), Sirpur cultural landscape; India’s tally - 81; WH Sites - 45 (after Sarnath, July 2026).
• India’s only active volcano: Barren Island (Andaman & Nicobar Islands).
• Jio Platforms IPO: India’s largest ever at ₹30,213 crore; price band ₹1,065–1,119; closed 23 October; lists today (24 October); valuation ~₹10.30 lakh crore; previous record - Hyundai Motor India (₹27,870 crore, 2024).
• India–New Zealand FTA: India’s 17th FTA; in force 20 October 2026; allows 1,000 young Indians to work in NZ for a year.
• SGB 2018-19 Series-II: final redemption price - ₹14,425/unit (maturing 23 October 2026).
• MPC vote (Oct policy): repo hike 6-0 (unanimous); stance shift to calibrated tightening - 4-2 (Nagesh Kumar + Ram Singh preferred neutral).
• Land Warfare Doctrine 2026: released by Rajnath Singh at Army Commanders’ Conference (21–23 Oct, New Delhi); replaces 2018 doctrine; COAS - General Dhiraj Seth.
• BEL LLLR-I radar contract: ₹770 crore (MoD, 21 Oct); for Indian Army; drone detection.
• SIMBEX-2026 (33rd edition): India–Singapore; sea phase begins 24 Oct; Bay of Bengal; Visakhapatnam.
• AUSTRAHIND 2026 (5th edition): India–Australia; Thiruvananthapuram; 19 Oct–1 Nov; New Zealand observers (first time).
• Asian Para Games 2026: Aichi-Nagoya, Japan; 18–24 October; India - 4th with 88 medals (21G, 26S, 41B) after Day 4; Sheetal Devi - 2 golds (compound individual + mixed team); Games end today (24 October).
• UN Day: 24 October; UN Charter in force - 24 October 1945; UN has 193 member states; UNSG - António Guterres; UN HQ - New York.
• World Polio Day: 24 October; established by Rotary International; marks birthday of Jonas Salk (IPV inventor, 1955); India polio-free since 27 March 2014; last case - 13 January 2011 (Howrah, WB); wild polio persists in Afghanistan and Pakistan only.
• J&K Accession Day: 26 October 1947 - Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession.
• Infantry Day: 27 October - marks airlift of 1st Sikh Regiment to Srinagar, 27 October 1947.
• National Unity Day: 31 October - birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (1875); Statue of Unity - 182 m, Kevadia, Gujarat; inaugurated 31 October 2018.
• ISRO IMAT-05: 5th Gaganyaan parachute airdrop test; ADRDE, Sheopur, MP.
• Vultr AI Supercluster: 20 MW facility in Chennai; powered by AMD Instinct MI355X GPUs.
• Green Diwali Campaign 2026: 20 Oct–8 Nov; 130 cities under NCAP; under Mission LiFE.
• Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026: Ahmedabad; 23–31 October.
• Asian Champions Trophy (Hockey): Punjab; 27 Oct–5 Nov.
• Summer Youth Olympics 2026: Dakar, Senegal; 31 Oct–13 Nov; first Olympics on African soil; 5th edition.