Current Affairs 15 October 2026

Cyclone Rachel 2026

Cyclone Rachel, a tropical cyclone that developed over the eastern North Pacific Ocean in September 2026, caused heavy rainfall, flooding and coastal damage in Mexico and the southwestern United States in October 2026.

Preventive Detention in India

The Supreme Court of India, on 11 October 2026, directed the Union Government and Delhi Police to prevent unlawful detentions and ensure the free movement of people during protests in New Delhi, subject to law and public order.

Preventive detention refers to the detention of a person without trial or conviction to prevent anticipated activities that may threaten national security, public order or other legally specified interests. Unlike punitive detention, which follows the commission of an offence, preventive detention aims to prevent potential future harm. The National Security Act (NSA), 1980, and the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act (COFEPOSA), 1974, are important preventive detention laws in India.

Constitutional Safeguards Against Preventive Detention

Article 22 of the Indian Constitution provides safeguards against arbitrary arrest and detention. Under Article 22(4), preventive detention beyond three months generally requires the opinion of an Advisory Board, subject to constitutional provisions. Article 22(5) requires the authorities to communicate the grounds of detention as soon as possible and provide the detained person with an opportunity to make a representation against the detention order. Preventive detention orders are also subject to judicial review.

The Supreme Court has repeatedly emphasised that preventive detention is an exceptional power and cannot be exercised routinely.

Air-Gapped Testing of AI Models

More than 200 Artificial Intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity researchers called for immediate safety measures to prevent advanced AI models from escaping security controls and potentially threatening critical infrastructure. The researchers recommended air-gapping cyber-capable AI models during development and testing. Air-gapping is a cybersecurity technique in which a computer or network is physically isolated from the internet and other external networks to prevent unauthorised access, data theft and cyberattacks.

Study Finds ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Visakhapatnam Coastal Waters

Recent studies have raised concerns about the presence of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), commonly known as ‘forever chemicals’, in India’s water sources. PFAS are synthetic chemicals containing strong carbon–fluorine bonds, which make them highly resistant to environmental degradation. They are widely used in industrial coatings, textiles and other consumer products.

A study published on 16 July 2026 in npj Emerging Contaminants examined seawater and sewage samples from the Visakhapatnam coastal region of Andhra Pradesh. Researchers from GITAM (Deemed to be University), Hyderabad, and institutions in Canada and the United States tested for 77 PFAS compounds and detected 38 compounds. Their modelling estimated that sewage contributed approximately 41% of median PFAS concentrations along the coast.

First BIMSTEC Home Ministers’ Meeting

The First Home Ministers’ Meeting of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) was held in New Delhi on 13 October 2026. The meeting concluded with the adoption of the Delhi Declaration, aimed at strengthening regional cooperation in counter-terrorism, transnational crime and other security challenges.

Home Ministers from all seven BIMSTEC member countries — Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand — participated in the meeting. The establishment of a Home Ministers’ Meeting mechanism was originally proposed at the 4th BIMSTEC Summit in Kathmandu in 2018 and subsequently welcomed at the 6th BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok in April 2025.

Q1. Where was the First BIMSTEC Home Ministers’ Meeting, which adopted the Delhi Declaration, held in October 2026?
A. Bangkok, Thailand
B. Dhaka, Bangladesh
C. New Delhi, India
D. Kathmandu, Nepal

Q2. What is the ‘air-gapping’ technique used in cybersecurity?
A. Connecting AI models to multiple cloud servers for continuous monitoring
B. Physically isolating computer systems from the internet and external networks
C. Encrypting AI-generated information using quantum computing
D. Allowing AI models to access the internet through virtual private networks

Q3. Which of the following substances are commonly known as ‘Forever Chemicals’ due to their high resistance to environmental degradation?
A. Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)
B. Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)
C. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
D. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Q4. Which of the following Articles of the Indian Constitution are collectively known as the ‘Golden Triangle of Fundamental Rights’?
A. Articles 14, 19 and 21
B. Articles 14, 21 and 22
C. Articles 19, 21 and 32
D. Articles 14, 19 and 32

Q5. Cyclone Rachel, which caused severe flooding and coastal damage in October 2026, primarily affected which of the following countries?
A. Japan and the Philippines
B. Mexico and the United States
C. Australia and New Zealand
D. India and Bangladesh