Current Affairs 05 October 2026

Government Standardises Names of 28 Geographical Features in Ladakh

The Government of India, in consultation with the Union Territory of Ladakh, has formally identified 28 places and geographical features by standard names on the official map of the Survey of India (SoI). The Ministry of Home Affairs announced the development on October 2, 2026. The objective is to ensure accurate recognition and standardised representation of these geographical features.

Important Places for Competitive Exams

• Gogra — Land area; important in the context of the India-China border standoff in eastern Ladakh.
• Hot Spring — Classified as a water body; also associated with the India-China border friction points.
• Dehra Compass — Land area; located in the Aksai Chin region, according to reporting on the mapping exercise.
• Zorawar Peak — Peak; its name is notable in Ladakh-related history and geography.

₹1 Lakh-Crore Global Horticulture Hub

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan launched the ₹1 lakh-crore ‘Global Horticulture Hub – Rayalaseema Rising’ project at Madanapalle on October 2, 2026. The initiative aims to transform Rayalaseema from a drought-prone region into a major global horticulture centre through irrigation, technology, food processing, logistics and export infrastructure.

Of the total proposed investment, around ₹40,000 crore will come from government support and ₹60,000 crore from private investment. The project will cover 5,860 villages in 201 clusters across 10 districts, including the erstwhile Prakasam district. It will be implemented in three phases and aims to bring an additional six lakh acres under horticulture.

The project proposes a “seed-to-shipment” ecosystem, integrating cultivation with food processing, agri-tech, logistics and exports. Crops such as apples, strawberries, bananas, avocado, kiwi and dates will be promoted. The State government said horticulture currently contributes around ₹1.5 lakh crore in Gross Value Added (GVA), while the new hub is expected to add another ₹1 lakh crore.

On the same occasion, the foundation stone was laid for the Indian School of Agriculture (ISA) at Madanapalle, with support from Reliance Industries. Modelled on the Indian School of Business, the institution is expected to work on Artificial Intelligence (AI), digital agriculture, precision farming, crop monitoring, smart irrigation, drones and market intelligence to provide technology-driven support to farmers.

Reliance Industries Executive Director Anant Ambani also announced that Reliance would invest ₹1 lakh crore in Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) plants in Andhra Pradesh, with the investment projected to create 3 lakh jobs and generate ₹60,000 crore in revenue for the State.

India’s First WASH-Focused Social Bond

NABKISAN Finance Limited, a subsidiary of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), listed India’s first Social Bond dedicated exclusively to the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector on the National Stock Exchange (NSE), Mumbai, on October 1, 2026.

The WASH Social Bond raised ₹180 crore after receiving strong investor participation, with the issue being oversubscribed 1.8 times. The five-year bond carries a coupon rate of 8.10% and will mature in September 2031. It has received the highest domestic credit ratings of CRISIL AAA (Stable) and CARE AAA (Stable).

The proceeds from the bond will be used to expand access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities in rural and underserved communities. The initiative demonstrates how capital-market instruments can mobilise private investment for development objectives and measurable social impact.

PM-SETU Completes One Year

The Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM-SETU) scheme completed one year on October 4, 2026. Launched on October 4, 2025, the scheme aims to transform Government Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) into modern, industry-aligned vocational training institutions. It has a total outlay of ₹60,000 crore — ₹30,000 crore from the Centre, ₹20,000 crore from States and ₹10,000 crore from industry.

Under Component I, PM-SETU aims to upgrade 1,000 Government ITIs through a Hub-and-Spoke model, comprising 200 Hub ITIs and 800 Spoke ITIs. Each Hub is connected with about four Spokes, enabling shared access to modern infrastructure, digital learning, advanced trades, innovation facilities, and placement services. During the first year, 850 ITIs have been identified, and 14 ITI clusters have been approved.

Under Component II, the capacity of five National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs) at Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kanpur and Ludhiana will be augmented through sector-specific National Centres of Excellence and advanced training of trainers.

PM-SETU International Partnerships

According to the source you provided, PM-SETU has established the following international collaborations under Component II:

The scheme gives an important role to industry through Strategic Investment Plans (SIPs), Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) and Anchor Industry Partners (AIPs). Strategic Investment Plans for 14 ITI clusters involving an investment of ₹3,446 crore have been approved.

Under PM-SETU, the Kancharapalem ITI cluster in Andhra Pradesh is among the 14 approved clusters. ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India has been identified as its Anchor Industry Partner for the Steel and Metals sector, with an investment value of ₹200 crore.

Asian Games 2026

The Indian Women’s Hockey Team defeated China 1–0 in the final to win the Asian Games gold medal after a gap of 44 years. India had last won the women’s hockey gold at the Asian Games in 1982. The victory also secured India a quota for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

In wrestling, Sujeet Kalkal won the gold medal in the Men’s 65 kg Freestyle category. Indian boxers also delivered three gold medals: Ankush Panghal won the Men’s 80 kg title, Parveen Hooda won the Women’s 65 kg title, and Lovlina Borgohain won gold in the Women’s 75 kg category.

Lovlina Borgohain’s victory was particularly significant as she became only the second Indian woman boxer after M.C. Mary Kom to win an Asian Games boxing gold medal. She had won silver at the previous Asian Games.

India recorded major gold-medal victories across multiple disciplines at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, with successes in hockey, wrestling, cricket, golf and archery.

The Indian Men’s Hockey Team retained its Asian Games gold medal with a commanding victory in the final. The result continued India’s strong performance in men’s hockey after its gold-medal triumph at the previous Asian Games.

In wrestling, Aman Sehrawat created history by winning India’s first-ever Asian Games gold medal in Men’s 57 kg Freestyle Wrestling. The Indian Men’s Cricket Team also successfully retained its Asian Games gold medal.

India achieved another first through Pranavi Sharath Urs, who won the country’s first-ever Asian Games gold medal in Women’s Individual Golf. In archery, Kumkum Anil Mohod became the first Indian woman to win the Recurve Individual gold medal at the Asian Games.

Q1. Who among the following won the gold medal in the Women’s 75 kg Boxing event at the Asian Games 2026?
A. Parveen Hooda
B. Lovlina Borgohain
C. Nikhat Zareen
D. Saweety Boora

Q2. The Indian Women’s Hockey Team won the Asian Games gold medal after a gap of 44 years by defeating which of the following countries in the final?
A. Japan
B. South Korea
C. China
D. Malaysia

Q3. Zorawar Peak, which was recently in the news, is located in which of the following Union Territories?
A. Jammu and Kashmir
B. Ladakh
C. Uttarakhand
D. Himachal Pradesh

Q4. The ₹1 lakh-crore ‘Global Horticulture Hub – Rayalaseema Rising’ project was recently launched at which of the following places in Andhra Pradesh?
A. Kurnool
B. Madanapalle
C. Anantapur
D. Kadapa

Q5. What is the total proposed outlay of the ‘Global Horticulture Hub – Rayalaseema Rising’ project launched in Andhra Pradesh?
A. ₹25,000 crore
B. ₹50,000 crore
C. ₹75,000 crore
D. ₹1 lakh crore

Q6. Who among the following won India’s first-ever Asian Games gold medal in Women’s Individual Golf at the 2026 Asian Games?
A. Aditi Ashok
B. Diksha Dagar
C. Pranavi Sharath Urs
D. Tvesa Malik

Q7. Who became the first Indian woman to win the Recurve Individual Gold medal at the Asian Games?
A. Deepika Kumari
B. Ankita Bhakat
C. Kumkum Anil Mohod
D. Simranjeet Kaur

Q8. Which institution listed India’s first Social Bond dedicated exclusively to the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector in October 2026?
A. NABKISAN Finance Limited
B. SIDBI
C. EXIM Bank of India
D. National Housing Bank

Q9. Under the PM-SETU Scheme, which ITI cluster in Andhra Pradesh has been approved with ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India as its Anchor Industry Partner?
A. Kancharapalem
B. Tirupati
C. Kakinada
D. Vijayawada

Q10. The Indian School of Agriculture (ISA), recently in the news, is being established in which State?
A. Telangana
B. Andhra Pradesh
C. Karnataka
D. Tamil Nadu