Current Affairs 10 October 2026

Andhra Pradesh Wins Award at Wind Energy India 2026

Andhra Pradesh received the prestigious “Leadership State in Renewable Energy Investment Mobilisation Award” at the 8th International Trade Fair and Conference, Windergy India 2026, held in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

Parliamentary Standing Committee Report: “Reforms and Strengthening of the National Testing Agency (NTA)”

The Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports, chaired by Rajya Sabha MP Mukul Wasnik, presented its 382nd Report, titled “Reforms and Strengthening of the National Testing Agency (NTA)”, to the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha on 9 October 2026. The report examines examination security, institutional accountability, infrastructure, transparency, and accessibility in national-level entrance examinations.

Major Recommendations:

• Phased transition of NEET-UG to Computer-Based Testing (CBT)
• Proposed CBT infrastructure: 1,000 secure government-owned centres
• District-level access: At least one examination centre in every district
• Proposed IT laboratories: 100–200 computer nodes in schools and colleges
• NTA staffing: 23 officers in position against 39 sanctioned posts; approximately 41% vacancies
• Examination security: Large question banks, cybersecurity teams and AI-based malpractice detection
• Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT): A proposed future assessment model that adjusts question selection according to candidate performance

Earlier expert committee: High-Level Committee of Experts chaired by Dr. K. Radhakrishnan

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is a statutory body established on 12 October 1993 under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993. It is responsible for protecting and promoting human rights in India, including the rights to life, liberty, equality and dignity guaranteed by the Constitution or recognised in international human rights covenants and enforceable by courts in India.

The NHRC was established in accordance with the principles underlying the Paris Principles, 1993, which provide international standards for the independence and functioning of national human rights institutions.

Composition and Appointment

• Under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, as amended in 2019, the NHRC consists of a Chairperson, five full-time members and designated ex-officio members.
• The Chairperson must be a person who has been the Chief Justice of India or a Judge of the Supreme Court. The five full-time members include a serving or former Supreme Court judge, a serving or former Chief Justice of a High Court, and three persons with knowledge or practical experience in human rights, of whom at least one must be a woman.
• The Chairperson and members are appointed by the President of India, based on the recommendations of a six-member selection committee headed by the Prime Minister. Other members of the selection committee include the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Union Home Minister, Leaders of the Opposition in both Houses of Parliament and Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
• The Chairperson and full-time members hold office for three years or until attaining the age of 70 years, whichever is earlier, and are eligible for reappointment, subject to statutory provisions.

Andhra Pradesh State Human Rights Commission

The Andhra Pradesh State Human Rights Commission (APSHRC) is a separate State-level statutory institution established under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993. It deals with human rights matters falling within its statutory jurisdiction in Andhra Pradesh. The NHRC and State Human Rights Commissions are distinct bodies; State Commissions are not subordinate branches of the NHRC.

Note:

• The present Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India is Shri Justice V. Ramasubramanian.
• The present Chairperson of the AP State Human Rights Commission: As of October 2026, the Advocate General informed the High Court that the appointment of the new APSHRC chairperson and members is pending before the selection committee headed by the Chief Minister.

Nobel Prize in Literature 2026

Canadian poet, essayist and translator Anne Carson has been awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature for her innovative literary works that combine classical Greek and Roman traditions with modern writing styles.

World Mental Health Day – 10 October

World Mental Health Day was observed globally on 10 October 2026 to raise awareness about mental health, reduce stigma surrounding mental disorders, and promote access to quality mental healthcare. The theme of World Mental Health Day 2026 was “Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change.” It was announced by the World Federation for Mental Health and supported by the WHO.

World Cotton Day – 7 October

World Cotton Day was observed globally on 7 October 2026 to highlight the economic, social and environmental importance of cotton, particularly its contribution to agriculture, textile manufacturing, international trade and rural livelihoods. The 2026 global celebration of World Cotton Day was held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, under the theme “Cotton for Good: Building Prosperity Through Trade, Transformation and Partnership.”

World Cotton Day was first celebrated on 7 October 2019, following an initiative by four African cotton-producing countries — Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali, collectively known as the Cotton-4 (C-4) countries. The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) officially proclaimed 7 October as World Cotton Day in 2021.

Cotton is a major commercial crop and a natural textile fibre obtained from the seed hairs of plants belonging to the genus Gossypium. It is commonly referred to as “White Gold” because of its economic importance.

In India, cotton is an important kharif crop, grown mainly in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The crop requires warm temperatures and is traditionally associated with black cotton soils, also called Regur soils.

Veteran Actor Nana Patekar Dies at 75

Veteran Indian actor Nana Patekar, known for his contributions to Hindi and Marathi cinema, reportedly passed away at the age of 75. Patekar received three National Film Awards for his performances in Parinda, Krantiveer and Agni Sakshi. He also received the Padma Shri in 2013 for his contributions to Indian cinema.

Q1. Who was the Chairman of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports that presented its 382nd Report on “Reforms and Strengthening of the National Testing Agency (NTA)” in October 2026?
A. Dr. K. Radhakrishnan
B. Mukul Wasnik
C. Jairam Ramesh
D. Bhubaneswar Kalita

Q2. What was the theme of World Mental Health Day 2026, observed on 10 October?
A. Mental Health at Work
B. Mental Health in Humanitarian Emergencies
C. Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change
D. Mental Health Is a Universal Human Right

Q3. Consider the following statements regarding World Cotton Day 2026:

1. World Cotton Day was observed globally on 12 October 2026.
2. The theme of World Cotton Day 2026 was “Cotton for Good: Building Prosperity Through Trade, Transformation and Partnership.”

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

Q4. With reference to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India, consider the following statements:

1. The NHRC was established on 12 October 1993 under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.
2. The Chairperson of the NHRC is appointed by the President of India on the recommendation of a committee headed by the Prime Minister.
3. The Chairperson and full-time members of the NHRC hold office for five years or until attaining the age of 70 years, whichever is earlier.
4. A person who has been a Judge of the Supreme Court of India is eligible for appointment as Chairperson of the NHRC.

Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1 and 3 only
B. 2, 3 and 4 only
C. 1, 2 and 4 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q5. Who is the current Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India as of October 2026?
A. Justice Arun Mishra
B. Justice H. L. Dattu
C. Justice V. Ramasubramanian
D. Justice A. K. Sikri

Q6. Who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature 2026 for innovative literary works combining classical traditions with contemporary literary forms?
A. Margaret Atwood
B. Anne Carson
C. Olga Tokarczuk
D. László Krasznahorkai

Q7. Nana Patekar, who passed away recently in October 2026, was a renowned personality associated with which of the following fields?
A. Indian Cinema
B. Classical Music
C. Indian Literature
D. Sports

Q8. Which State received the “Leadership State in Renewable Energy Investment Mobilisation Award” at Windergy India 2026, held in Chennai?
A. Tamil Nadu
B. Gujarat
C. Andhra Pradesh
D. Karnataka