Current Affairs 13 October 2026
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International Current Affairs
USA Announced Suspension of PERM Green Card Programme
The United States government announced the suspension of eight major technology and IT services companies from the Permanent Labor Certification (PERM) programme on 8 October 2026. The suspension affected Microsoft, Adobe, Cognizant, Capgemini, Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Wipro and HCL Technologies.
PERM (Program Electronic Review Management) is a system administered by the US Department of Labor for processing permanent labour certification applications. It is an important step in many employment-based Green Card applications. Employers generally must demonstrate that sufficient qualified US workers are unavailable for the position and that hiring a foreign worker will not adversely affect the wages and working conditions of comparable US workers.
The decision was expected to affect skilled foreign professionals, particularly Indian IT workers seeking permanent residency in the United States through employer sponsorship. The suspension did not apply to the entire PERM programme and did not automatically cancel existing H-1B visas or Green Cards. The H-1B programme provides temporary employment authorisation, whereas PERM is associated with the employment-based permanent residency process.
National Current Affairs
Noida International Airport renamed as Narendra Modi International Airport
The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet approved a proposal to rename Noida International Airport at Jewar as ‘Narendra Modi International Airport, Noida-Jewar’ on 9 October 2026. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced the decision following a meeting of the State Council of Ministers.
The Chief Minister stated that the Cabinet had passed a resolution expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the development of the airport. The airport is located at Jewar in Gautam Buddha Nagar district, Uttar Pradesh, near Greater Noida.
Andhra Pradesh Current Affairs
Adavi Thalli Baata 2.0
Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan launched the Adavi Thalli Baata 2.0 programme on 11 October 2026, at Kaakavada village in Polavaram district, to improve road connectivity in remote tribal areas. The programme envisaged the construction of 1,976 km of roads connecting 1,341 tribal habitations, with an estimated expenditure of ₹2,052 crore.
Science and Technology
World’s First Working Nuclear Clocks Using Thorium-229
Scientists from Europe and China developed the world’s first working nuclear clocks using the thorium-229 isotope, marking an important advancement in precision timekeeping. The findings were published in two separate research papers in the scientific journal Nature. The experimental clocks demonstrated a new method of measuring time using transitions within an atomic nucleus rather than the movement of electrons.
WHO Prequalifies India’s First HPV Vaccine CERVAVAC
The World Health Organization (WHO) granted prequalification to CERVAVAC, India’s first indigenously developed quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII). The prequalification became effective on 25 September 2026, making CERVAVAC the first Indian-made quadrivalent HPV vaccine to receive this recognition.
CERVAVAC is a gender-neutral vaccine licensed in India for girls and boys aged 9–26 years. It protects against four HPV types: 6, 11, 16, and 18. HPV types 16 and 18 are associated with a large proportion of cervical cancers, while types 6 and 11 cause most anogenital warts. Persistent infection with high-risk HPV types is responsible for more than 95% of cervical cancers.
Schemes
PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana
The Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY) completed its first year of implementation on 11 October 2026. The Union Cabinet approved the scheme on 16 July 2025, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally launched it on 11 October 2025 to accelerate agricultural development in 100 Aspirational Agricultural Districts across India.
The scheme will run for six years, beginning in 2025–26, and focuses on improving agricultural productivity, crop diversification, irrigation infrastructure, post-harvest storage, institutional credit, and governance. The scheme selected 100 districts based on three indicators: low agricultural productivity, low cropping intensity, and low agricultural credit disbursement. Every State has at least one district covered under the scheme.
Four districts from Andhra Pradesh have been selected:
- Alluri Sitharama Raju
- Anantapur
- Annamayya
- Sri Sathya Sai
These districts are included among the 100 Aspirational Agricultural Districts covered by the scheme.
Awards and Honours
Nobel Peace Prize 2026
Navi Pillay, a South African-born international jurist and former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, was awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to promote international law, human rights and the rule of law. The announcement was made by the Norwegian Nobel Committee in Oslo, Norway, on 9 October 2026. The award marked the 125th anniversary of the Nobel Peace Prize, which was first presented in 1901.
Defence
Exercise INDRA 2026
The Indian Navy’s warship INS Sahyadri arrived at Vladivostok, Russia, on 10 October 2026, to participate in Exercise INDRA 2026, a bilateral naval exercise between the Indian Navy and the Russian Federation Navy.
Exercise KONKAN-26
The Indian Navy’s guided-missile stealth frigate INS Trishul participated in Exercise KONKAN-26, an annual bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian Navy and the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy, held from 8 to 15 October 2026 off Plymouth, United Kingdom.
Important Days
International Day of the Girl Child – 11 October
The International Day of the Girl Child is observed annually on 11 October to highlight the challenges faced by girls worldwide and promote their rights and empowerment. The official theme for the International Day of the Girl Child 2026 is “End child marriage and invest in girls’ rights”.
Miscellaneous
Smriti Mandhana Appointed UNICEF India Celebrity Advocate for Adolescent Girls
Indian women’s cricket star Smriti Mandhana was appointed as a Celebrity Advocate by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) India on 11 October 2026, coinciding with the International Day of the Girl Child. The appointment aimed to promote equal opportunities, health, well-being and empowerment among adolescent girls in India.
Daily Current Affairs Quiz
Q1. Which of the following groups of districts from Andhra Pradesh were selected under the Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY)?
A. Alluri Sitharama Raju, Anantapur, Annamayya and Sri Sathya Sai
B. Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam and Parvathipuram Manyam
C. Kurnool, Nandyal, YSR Kadapa and Chittoor
D. Prakasam, Palnadu, Bapatla and Nellore
Show Answer
Answer: A. Alluri Sitharama Raju, Anantapur, Annamayya and Sri Sathya Sai
Explanation: Four districts from Andhra Pradesh — Alluri Sitharama Raju, Anantapur (Ananthapuramu), Annamayya and Sri Sathya Sai — were selected under the Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY). The scheme was launched on 11 October 2025 to improve agricultural development in 100 Aspirational Agricultural Districts across India. The districts were selected based on low agricultural productivity, low cropping intensity and low agricultural credit disbursement. The scheme is implemented through the convergence of 36 Central schemes across 11 Ministries and Departments.
Q2. Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sahyadri participated in which of the following bilateral naval exercises in Russia?
A. Exercise Varuna
B. Exercise INDRA
C. Exercise Malabar
D. Exercise SIMBEX
Show Answer
Answer: B. Exercise INDRA
Explanation: INS Sahyadri arrived at Vladivostok, Russia, on 10 October 2026 to participate in Exercise INDRA 2026, a bilateral naval exercise between the Indian Navy and the Russian Federation Navy, scheduled from 13 to 18 October 2026. The exercise included planned harbour and sea phases aimed at strengthening maritime cooperation, operational coordination and interoperability. The deployment was aligned with India’s MAHASAGAR vision (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions).
Q3. Indian Navy’s guided-missile stealth frigate INS Trishul participated in Exercise KONKAN-26, held in October 2026, with the navy of which country?
A. France
B. United Kingdom
C. Russia
D. Australia
Show Answer
Answer: B. United Kingdom
Explanation: Exercise KONKAN-26 was an annual bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian Navy and the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy, scheduled from 8 to 15 October 2026 off Plymouth, UK. INS Trishul, a guided-missile stealth frigate of the Indian Navy, participated in the exercise. It comprised Harbour and Sea phases, with maritime drills across air, surface and sub-surface domains. The exercise strengthened India–UK naval interoperability and reflected the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership outlined in India–UK Vision 2035.
Q4. Who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2026 for contributions to promoting peace, international law and the rule of law?
A. Maria Corina Machado
B. Narges Mohammadi
C. Navi Pillay
D. Shirin Ebadi
Show Answer
Answer: C. Navi Pillay
Explanation: Navanethem “Navi” Pillay, a South African-born jurist of Indian Tamil origin and former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, was announced as the winner of the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize on 9 October 2026. The Norwegian Nobel Committee recognised her contributions to promoting peace, international law and accountability for serious international crimes. She also served as a judge of the International Criminal Court and chaired a UN Commission of Inquiry concerning the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel.
Q5. In October 2026, the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet approved a proposal to rename Noida International Airport as which of the following?
A. Atal Bihari Vajpayee International Airport
B. Narendra Modi International Airport, Noida-Jewar
C. Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport
D. Yogi Adityanath International Airport
Show Answer
Answer: B. Narendra Modi International Airport, Noida-Jewar
Explanation: On 9 October 2026, the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet, headed by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, approved a proposal to rename Noida International Airport as ‘Narendra Modi International Airport, Noida-Jewar’. The airport is located at Jewar in Gautam Buddha Nagar district, Uttar Pradesh. The Cabinet’s decision was a proposal for renaming, not confirmation that the official name change had been completed.
Q6. In October 2026, US Vice President JD Vance announced the suspension of eight major technology companies from the PERM programme. What is the primary purpose of this programme?
A. To provide temporary tourist visas to foreign nationals
B. To facilitate labour certification for employer-sponsored permanent residency applications
C. To grant automatic US citizenship to foreign technology workers
D. To provide financial assistance to American technology companies
Show Answer
Answer: B. To facilitate labour certification for employer-sponsored permanent residency applications
Explanation: PERM stands for Program Electronic Review Management. It is administered by the US Department of Labor and is used to process permanent labour certification applications, an important step in many employment-based Green Card cases. On 8 October 2026, US Vice President JD Vance announced the suspension of eight companies, including Microsoft, Adobe, Infosys, TCS, Wipro and HCL Technologies, from the programme amid investigations into alleged misuse. The suspension affected new and pending PERM applications involving these companies but did not automatically cancel existing H-1B visas or Green Cards.
Q7. Scientists from Europe and China recently developed the world’s first working nuclear clocks using which of the following isotopes?
A. Uranium-235
B. Thorium-229
C. Caesium-133
D. Carbon-14
Show Answer
Answer: B. Thorium-229
Explanation: Scientists from China, Austria and Germany developed the world’s first working nuclear clocks using the thorium-229 isotope, as reported in the scientific journal Nature. Unlike conventional atomic clocks, which rely on transitions between electronic energy levels, nuclear clocks use transitions within the atomic nucleus. Thorium-229 has an exceptionally low-energy nuclear transition that can be excited using an ultraviolet laser. The Chinese researchers embedded thorium-229 in calcium fluoride crystals, while European researchers investigated its potential for detecting dark matter by comparing it with a ytterbium atomic clock.
Q8. Which Indian-made vaccine became the first indigenous quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to receive World Health Organization (WHO) prequalification in September 2026?
A. Gardasil-4
B. Cervarix
C. CERVAVAC
D. Gardasil-9
Show Answer
Answer: C. CERVAVAC
Explanation: CERVAVAC, developed by the Serum Institute of India (SII), became the first Indian-made quadrivalent HPV vaccine to receive WHO prequalification, effective from 25 September 2026. It protects against HPV types 6, 11, 16 and 18 and is licensed in India for girls and boys aged 9–26 years. WHO prequalification confirms compliance with international quality, safety and efficacy standards and enables procurement by United Nations agencies. India’s national HPV vaccination programme, launched on 28 February 2026, currently uses Gardasil-4.
Q9. Which Indian cricketer was appointed as a Celebrity Advocate by UNICEF India in October 2026 to promote equal opportunities, health and well-being for adolescent girls?
A. Harmanpreet Kaur
B. Mithali Raj
C. Smriti Mandhana
D. Jemimah Rodrigues
Show Answer
Answer: C. Smriti Mandhana
Explanation: Indian women’s cricketer Smriti Mandhana was appointed as a Celebrity Advocate by UNICEF India on 11 October 2026, coinciding with the International Day of the Girl Child. Her role focused on promoting equal opportunities, health, well-being, leadership and sports participation among adolescent girls. The International Day of the Girl Child is observed annually on 11 October and was established by the United Nations General Assembly through Resolution 66/170 in 2011.
Q10. When is the International Day of the Girl Child observed every year?
A. 8 March
B. 11 October
C. 24 January
D. 20 November
Show Answer
Answer: B. 11 October
Explanation: The International Day of the Girl Child is observed annually on 11 October to promote girls’ rights, empowerment, education, safety and equal opportunities. The United Nations General Assembly established the observance through Resolution 66/170 in December 2011, and it was first celebrated in 2012. In 2026, UNICEF India appointed Indian cricketer Smriti Mandhana as a Celebrity Advocate on this occasion to promote equal opportunities, health and well-being for adolescent girls.
Q11. At which place did the Andhra Pradesh government launch the Adavi Thalli Baata 2.0 programme in October 2026?
A. Araku Valley, Alluri Sitharama Raju district
B. Kaakavada village, Polavaram district
C. Paderu, Alluri Sitharama Raju district
D. Srisailam, Nandyal district
Show Answer
Answer: B. Kaakavada village, Polavaram district
Explanation: Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan launched the Adavi Thalli Baata 2.0 programme on 11 October 2026 at Kaakavada village in Polavaram district. The programme, with an estimated expenditure of ₹2,052 crore, aimed to construct 1,976 km of roads connecting 1,341 tribal habitations across Andhra Pradesh.
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