Karnataka & Group C Current Affairs – October 15th to October 21st, 2026

Awards

1. Oscar Whitfield Wins Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026

Context: The Natural History Museum of London announced the winners of its 62nd annual international photography contest, with a 14-year-old securing the top youth prize for capturing a unique perspective on ecological behavior.

Key Highlights:

• Award: Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year (2026).
• Awardee: Oscar Whitfield (14-year-old British photographer).
• Issuing Authority: Natural History Museum, London, UK.
• Key Achievement: Won for his black-and-white photograph titled ‘Labour of Love’, which depicts a dung beetle transporting a dung ball. The image was captured from the insect’s eye level in Zimbabwe, showcasing the beetle’s vital ecological role in nutrient recycling.

About the Award:

• The Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition is a premier global platform recognizing high-quality photography focused on wildlife behavior and biodiversity.
• The 2026 edition (62nd overall) received a record 65,403 entries from 121 countries.
• Historically notable, the 2026 contest marked the first time that the overall winners in both the adult and young categories won using black-and-white photography.

2. Mari ZT Lalrithangi Honoured Among FAO’s 100 Women Heroes

Context: A female farmer from Mizoram achieved global recognition for successfully establishing and expanding a lucrative strawberry farming venture.

Key Highlights:

• Award/Recognition: Named among the 100 Women Heroes in Agrifood Systems and Rural Development.
• Awardee: Mari ZT Lalrithangi (A 35-year-old farmer from Sangau village in the Lawngtlai district of Mizoram).
• Issuing Authority: The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.
• Key Achievement: Starting with no prior experience in 2024, she successfully scaled her strawberry farming business from 1,000 saplings to over 10,000 plants across two hectares, increasing her annual income from ₹1.5 lakh to over ₹10 lakh by 2025. She is the first Mizo woman to receive this honour.

About the Award/Recognition:

• The recognition is part of the FAO’s International Year of Women Farmers 2026 campaign.
• Lalrithangi was chosen from over 600 nominations across 131 countries.
• The honour was officially conferred during the World Food Forum held by the FAO in Rome on October 15, 2026, highlighting the critical role women play in agricultural production and rural economic development.

Important days

1. World Students’ Day 2026

• Observed Date: October 15
• Objective / Focus: To celebrate the birth anniversary of former Indian President and aerospace scientist Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (marking his 95th birth anniversary in 2026). The day honors his immense dedication to education, scientific temper, and the empowerment of youth.
• Background / Key Facts: Dr. Kalam (born in 1931 in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu) was known as the ‘People’s President’ and the ‘Missile Man of India’ for his vital role in ISRO’s Launch Vehicle Programme (SLV-III) and DRDO’s Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme. He was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1997. After his presidency (2002–2007), he devoted his life to teaching and interacting with students until he passed away in 2015.
• International Status Note: While widely celebrated across educational institutions in India through seminars and science fairs, World Students’ Day is not officially recognized as an international day by the United Nations (the UN recognizes October 15 as the International Day of Rural Women). No official global theme is declared for this day.

2. Mahila Kisan Diwas 2026

• Observed Date: October 15
• Objective / Focus: Organized by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, the day commemorates the immense contribution of women farmers to Indian agriculture, food security, and rural development. The 2026 national-level celebration was held at the Dr. B. R. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi.
• Theme (2026): “Role of Women Farmers in Developing Agriculture and Developed India” (aligning with the vision of Viksit Bharat).
• Background / Key Facts:
  • According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) for 2025, females accounted for an estimated 59.8% of the total agricultural workforce in India.
  • The observance intentionally coincides with the UN’s International Day of Rural Women (also October 15).
  • The 2026 event holds special significance as the United Nations has officially declared 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer (IYWF 2026).

3. World Food Day 2026

• Observed Date: October 16
• Theme (2026): “Innovate today. Nourish tomorrow.” (emphasizing the role of innovation in creating inclusive, sustainable, and resilient agri-food systems).
• Objective / Focus: To highlight global issues of hunger, malnutrition, food security, and sustainable agriculture, aligning directly with Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG 2: Zero Hunger).
• Background / Key Facts:
  • The day commemorates the establishment of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations on October 16, 1945.
  • The observance was officially adopted in 1979 during the FAO’s 20th General Conference and was first observed globally in 1981.
  • The year 2026 marks the 46th observance of World Food Day. In India, it draws attention to key food security initiatives like the National Food Security Act (2013), PMGKAY, and PM POSHAN.

4. International Day for the Eradication of Poverty 2026

• Observed Date: October 17
• Theme (2026): “Safe Homes for All” (This falls under the broader multi-year UN theme for 2026-2028: “United for Peace and Human Rights”).
• Objective / Focus: To draw global attention to the systemic issues of poverty, social exclusion, and the protection of human dignity. The 2026 observance specifically emphasizes the critical connection between adequate housing, human rights, and poverty eradication.
• Background / Key Facts:
  • The observance traces back to October 17, 1987, when 100,000 people gathered in Trocadéro, Paris, to honor victims of extreme poverty, hunger, and violence.
  • The United Nations General Assembly officially declared the international day in 1992 (Resolution 47/196).
  • The 2026 observance prioritizes three key actions: treating housing rights as human rights, ensuring the participation of poverty-affected individuals in policy formulation, and mobilizing resources for secure/affordable housing.

5. Police Commemoration Day 2026

• Observed Date: October 21
• Objective / Focus: To honor the bravery and ultimate sacrifice of police personnel from state/Union Territory forces, CAPFs, and other police departments killed in the line of duty.
• Background / Key Facts:
  • The observance commemorates a specific tragic event on October 21, 1959, when ten CRPF members lost their lives in an ambush by Chinese forces at Hot Springs in Ladakh.
  • The central ceremony takes place at the National Police Memorial in Chanakyapuri, New Delhi (unveiled in 2018), which features the Central Sculpture, the Wall of Valour, and the Police Museum.
  • 2026 Special Event: A 90-person police motorcycle rally themed “Fight Against Drugs” was organized to raise awareness about substance abuse while traveling to Ekta Nagar in Gujarat to culminate at the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day) parade on October 31.

6. National Postal Week

• Observed Date: October 9 to 15
• Objective / Focus: Organized by the Department of Posts (DoP) to highlight the evolving role of the postal network in communication, grassroots financial inclusion, and technology-driven delivery services.
• Background & Themed Days: The week commences annually on World Post Day (October 9) and features dedicated observances to showcase different operational facets:
  • October 12 (Fun with Philately Day): Highlights the rich cultural, educational, and historical dimensions of stamp collecting.
  • October 13 (Financial Inclusion & CCS Day): Underscores the DoP’s vital contribution to strengthening nationwide financial inclusion.
  • October 14 (Mails & Parcels Day): Focuses on the department’s continued efforts to provide reliable, efficient, and accessible delivery logistics.
  • October 15 (Technology & Innovation Day): Concludes the celebrations by emphasizing modern digital and technological advancements within the postal infrastructure.

7. World Post Day

• Observed Date: October 9
• Theme (2026): “World Post Day: One Postal Network, Infinite Possibilities.”
• Background / Key Facts:
  • The day marks the anniversary of the establishment of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) in 1874 in Bern, Switzerland.
  • The observance was officially declared globally during the UPU Congress held in Tokyo, Japan, in 1969.

Military Exercises

1. Assam Regiment Wins Gold at Exercise Cambrian Patrol 2026

Context: A patrol team from the Indian Army’s Assam Regiment secured a gold medal at Exercise Cambrian Patrol 2026, an internationally recognized military patrol competition held in Wales, UK.

Salient Features:

2. Exercise AUSTRAHIND 2026

Context: The fifth edition of the bilateral joint military exercise AUSTRAHIND commenced in Kerala, focusing on interoperability between the Indian and Australian armies in coastal terrains.

Salient Features:

Science & Technology

TRISHNA Satellite Mission 2027

• Approved Mission: The Thermal Infra-Red Imaging Satellite for High-resolution Natural Resource Assessment (TRISHNA) is a joint international Earth observation mission being developed by India’s ISRO and France’s CNES.
• Core Objective: The mission aims to monitor the energy and water budgets of the continental biosphere. Key goals include assessing terrestrial water stress, detecting the urban heat island effect, studying inland/coastal water dynamics, and determining geothermal/volcanic anomalies.
• Technical Facts:
  • Slated for launch from Sriharikota, the satellite will operate in a sun-synchronous orbit at 761 kilometers with a 5-year design life.
  • It carries two primary instruments: a Thermal Infrared (TIR) Instrument (provided by CNES for surface temperature mapping) and a Visible-Near Infrared-SWIR Instrument (developed by ISRO for surface reflectance and vegetation parameters).
  • Spatial resolution targets: 57 meters on land/coastlines and 1 kilometer over oceans/polar zones.

Sports

1. Punam Raut Retires from International Cricket

Why in News: Indian women’s cricket team top-order batter Punam Raut officially announced her retirement from all forms of international cricket on October 15, 2026.

Key Highlights:

• Career Span & Stats:- The Mumbai-born batter represented India in 112 international matches between 2009 and 2021. Across formats, she played 4 Tests (scoring 264 runs, including a top score of 130 against South Africa), 73 ODIs (scoring 2,299 runs with three centuries), and 35 T20Is.
• Defining Milestone:- In her retirement statement, Raut highlighted the 2017 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup—where India reached the final—as a career-defining moment that inspired a generation of young girls and transformed the landscape of women’s cricket in India.

2. Indian Shooters Dominate at 2026 Para Asian Games

Why in News: Indian para-shooters Mona Agarwal and Avani Lekhara secured a historic 1-2 finish in the women’s 10m air rifle event at the 2026 Para Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, securing India’s first medals of the competition.

Mona Agarwal (Gold) and Avani Lekhara (Silver). Source: The Indian Express

Avani Lekhara in action. Source: Olympics.com / Paris 2024 Paralympics 

Key Highlights:

• Record-Breaking Gold:- Mona Agarwal (from Rajasthan) won the gold medal with a score of 250 points, establishing a new Asian Para Games record. She also set a new qualification record with 629.1 points.
• Silver & Olympic Quota:- Reigning Paralympic champion Avani Lekhara secured the silver medal with 249.6 points. Crucially, this performance booked a quota place for India at the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games (LA28).
• Athlete Backgrounds:-
  • Mona Agarwal is an Arjuna Awardee (2024) who transitioned from para-athletics, powerlifting, and sitting volleyball before taking up rifle shooting in late 2021. She previously won bronze at the Paris 2024 Paralympics.
  • Avani Lekhara is one of India’s most decorated para-athletes, having won consecutive Paralympic golds (Tokyo 2020, Paris 2024) in the 10m air rifle standing SH1 event.

3. Ayush Verma Wins Shot Put Gold at Asian Para Games 2026

Why in News: Indian para-athlete Ayush Verma secured the gold medal in the men’s shot put F53 event at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Nagoya, Japan, taking India’s total medal tally to 38.

Key Highlights:

• Golden Throw:- Verma claimed the top spot on the podium with a decisive throw of 8.16 meters on his fifth attempt. He defeated Iran’s Alireza Hemami (8.09m, Silver) and Kazakhstan’s Makhambet Serikkaliyev (6.81m, Bronze).
• Double Medalist:- This gold marks Verma’s second medal of the 2026 games, following his earlier bronze medal victory in the men’s javelin F53/54 event.