Current Affairs 02 October 2026

Sengol Included in New NCERT

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has included the Sengol in its newly released Class 9 Social Science textbook, Understanding Society: India and Beyond – Part Two. The chapter “Governance and Public Policy” describes the Sengol as a cultural marker associated with rulership, righteous governance, and the Chola dynasty.

Andhra Pradesh Athletes at Asian Games 2026

Three athletes from Andhra Pradesh have won gold medals at the Asian Games 2026 in Japan. Jyothi Surekha Vennam won gold in the Women’s Compound Archery Team event, while Thirumuru Ganesh Mani Ratnam won gold in the Men’s Compound Archery Team event. Sree Charani won gold as a member of the Indian Women’s Cricket Team.

UPSC Completes 100 Years

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) completed 100 years on 1 October 2026, marking a century since the establishment of India’s first Public Service Commission on 1 October 1926. The centenary celebrations were held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

The origins of the Commission can be traced to the Government of India Act, 1919 and the recommendations of the Royal Commission on the Superior Civil Services in India (Lee Commission) in 1924. The first Public Service Commission was subsequently established in 1926 under the chairmanship of Sir Ross Barker, its first Chairman.

Under the Government of India Act, 1935, it evolved into the Federal Public Service Commission. After Independence, it became the Union Public Service Commission and acquired constitutional status when the Constitution came into force on 26 January 1950.

UPSC is an independent constitutional body. Provisions relating to the Union and State Public Service Commissions are contained in Articles 315 to 323 in Part XIV of the Constitution.

• First Chairman: Sir Ross Barker
• Recommended by: Lee Commission (1924)
• Constitutional status: From 26 January 1950
• Article 315: Public Service Commissions for the Union and States
• Article 316: Appointment and term of members
• Article 317: Removal and suspension of members
• Article 320: Functions of Public Service Commissions
• Article 323: Reports of Public Service Commissions

Minimum Support Price for Rabi Crops Season 2027-28

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved an increase in the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for all mandated Rabi crops for the Rabi Marketing Season (RMS) 2027-28. The revised prices are intended to ensure remunerative returns to farmers for their produce.

CHIME Telescope Detects Ancient Hydrogen Glow

The Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME) telescope has made its first standalone detection of the faint radio glow of hydrogen from a period when the universe was about five billion years old. The international research collaboration includes scientists from India’s Raman Research Institute (RRI), Bengaluru, an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST).

Located in Canada, CHIME is an interferometric radio telescope designed to map the distribution of hydrogen gas across the universe. Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe, and its faint radio emission can act as a cosmic tracer, allowing astronomers to study how matter is distributed across space.

Southwest Monsoon 2026

India’s Southwest Monsoon 2026 recorded 759.4 mm of rainfall, which was 12.6% below the normal rainfall of 868.6 mm, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). At 87% of the Long Period Average (LPA), it was the country’s lowest southwest monsoon rainfall since 2015, when 758.2 mm was recorded.

The most severe deficit occurred in East and Northeast India, which received 1,017.1 mm of rainfall, making it the region’s driest southwest monsoon since 1901, when the IMD’s systematic records began.

Green Energy Corridor Phase-III

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the Green Energy Corridor Phase-III (GEC-III) Scheme to strengthen India’s Intra-State Transmission System (InSTS) and facilitate the integration and evacuation of up to 135 GW of renewable energy across States and Union Territories.

The scheme is targeted for completion by Financial Year 2032-33, with a total project outlay of ₹1,86,405 crore. GEC-III will support India’s target of achieving 900 GW of installed non-fossil fuel capacity by 2035.

Key Points for Exams:

• Scheme: Green Energy Corridor Phase-III (GEC-III)
• Target completion: FY 2032-33
• Total project outlay: ₹1,86,405 crore

Second ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise AIME-2026

The second edition of the ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME-2026) commenced at Subic Bay, Philippines, on 28 September 2026. The exercise brings together the Indian Navy and maritime forces of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Member States to strengthen maritime cooperation and interoperability. AIME-2026 is being conducted under the theme “Anchored in Trust, United at Sea”.

Annual Survey of Industries 2024-25

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has released the results of the Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) 2024-25, highlighting broad-based growth in India’s registered manufacturing sector. The number of establishments increased from 2.60 lakh in 2023-24 to 2.67 lakh in 2024-25, a growth of 2.64%.

The Gross Value Added (GVA) of the registered manufacturing sector increased by 9.59%, from ₹2,458.3 thousand crore to ₹2,694.2 thousand crore. Maharashtra recorded the highest manufacturing GVA, followed by Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh. Together, these five States accounted for more than 54% of India’s manufacturing GVA.

Q1. Who was the first Chairman of the Public Service Commission established in India in 1926?
A. Sir Ross Barker
B. Lord Lee
C. Sir Stafford Cripps
D. Lord Linlithgow

Q2. Which of the following commissions recommended the establishment of a Public Service Commission in India, leading to its establishment in 1926?
A. Simon Commission
B. Lee Commission
C. Butler Commission
D. Hunter Commission

Q3. What is the total project outlay of the recently approved Green Energy Corridor Phase-III (GEC-III) Scheme?
A. ₹1,36,378 crore
B. ₹1,50,000 crore
C. ₹1,86,405 crore
D. ₹2,04,082 crore

Q4. What is the Minimum Support Price (MSP) fixed for wheat for the Rabi Marketing Season 2027-28?
A. ₹2,550 per quintal
B. ₹2,585 per quintal
C. ₹2,610 per quintal
D. ₹2,650 per quintal

Q5. The second edition of the ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME-2026) commenced at which of the following locations?
A. Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam
B. Subic Bay, Philippines
C. Changi Naval Base, Singapore
D. Sattahip Naval Base, Thailand

Q6. Recently, the CHIME Telescope detected an ancient hydrogen glow from a period when the universe was about five billion years old. The CHIME Telescope is located in which country?
A. United States
B. Canada
C. Australia
D. France

Q7. According to the Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) 2024-25, which State recorded the highest Gross Value Added (GVA) in India’s registered manufacturing sector?
A. Tamil Nadu
B. Gujarat
C. Maharashtra
D. Karnataka

Q8. What was the overall rainfall deficit recorded in India during the Southwest Monsoon 2026 season?
A. 8.6%
B. 10.4%
C. 12.6%
D. 15.2%

Q9. Consider the following statements regarding India’s Southwest Monsoon 2026:
1. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the overall rainfall deficit was 12.6%.
2. The most severe rainfall deficit occurred in East and Northeast India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2

Q10. The Sengol, recently included in the new NCERT Class 9 Social Science textbook, is historically associated with the tradition of which dynasty?
A. Maurya dynasty
B. Gupta dynasty
C. Chola dynasty
D. Kushana dynasty

Q11. Who among the following from Andhra Pradesh won a gold medal in the Women’s Compound Archery Team event at the Asian Games 2026?
A. Jyothi Yarraji
B. Sree Charani
C. Jyothi Surekha Vennam
D. None of the above