Current Affairs 24 October 2026

Prime Minister of Poland Visited India

India and Poland announced several measures to strengthen their Strategic Partnership during Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s official visit to India from 21 to 23 October 2026. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Donald Tusk held bilateral discussions on trade, defence, disaster management and counter-terrorism.

The two countries set a target to double bilateral trade by 2030. They also agreed to strengthen investment, industrial cooperation and partnerships in emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, semiconductors and quantum technologies.

In a major development, Poland announced its decision to join the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), an international initiative India launched in 2019 to promote infrastructure that can withstand natural disasters and climate-related risks.

Tamil Nadu Launches Rainwater Harvesting Awareness Campaign with ‘Thuli’ Mascot

The Tamil Nadu Government launched a new rainwater harvesting awareness campaign to encourage people to conserve rainwater and improve groundwater levels ahead of the Northeast Monsoon. Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay unveiled the ‘Thuli’ mascot at an event organised by the Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department in Chennai.

Keynesian Economics Highlights the Role of Investment in Economic Growth and Stability

A recent economic analysis highlighted the differences between mainstream macroeconomics and Keynesian economics, particularly regarding the role of savings, investment, and interest rates in economic growth.

Economists Robert Hall and Michael Woodford developed models explaining how individual decisions about consumption and savings influence the overall economy. According to this approach, higher interest rates encourage people to save more and spend less, reducing current demand. This relationship helps central banks formulate monetary policy.

However, British economist John Maynard Keynes argued that savings do not automatically lead to investment. Businesses invest mainly when they expect to earn profits. Therefore, even if households save more money, companies may not increase investment when economic conditions are uncertain.

Keynes emphasised that business investment is a major driver of economic growth, employment and income. Increased investment generates additional income, which in turn creates savings. He also explained that uncertainty about future profits can cause businesses to invest heavily during economic booms and reduce investment during recessions, increasing economic instability.

Economists such as Hyman Minsky and Jan Kregel further developed Keynesian ideas to explain financial instability. Their work highlights how excessive borrowing, speculative investment, and changing business expectations can contribute to financial crises, including the 2008 Global Financial Crisis.

Shamonda Virus

France has reported the first-ever known human infection with the Shamonda virus, a virus previously identified in livestock. The infected patient subsequently died, but authorities have not yet established whether the virus caused or contributed to the death. The Shamonda virus is primarily transmitted by biting midges, which are small blood-feeding insects. The virus is most commonly found in cattle but has also been detected in horses, sheep, and goats.

Vummidi Ethirajulu, Craftsman Associated with the Historic Sengol, Passes Away

Vummidi Ethirajulu, who played an important role in designing and making the historic Sengol (golden sceptre) in 1947, has passed away. Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar paid tribute to him, recognising his contribution to India’s cultural and historical heritage.

The historic Sengol was installed in the new Parliament building in New Delhi in May 2023. Its installation highlighted the connection between India’s traditional symbols of governance and its modern democratic institutions.

Q1. Which country announced its decision to join the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) during its Prime Minister’s official visit to India in October 2026?
A. Hungary
B. Poland
C. Czech Republic
D. Slovakia

Q2. Who among the following played an important role in designing and making the historic Sengol in 1947 and recently passed away?
A. Vummidi Ethirajulu
B. V. Ganapati Sthapati
C. B. V. Doshi
D. Ram V. Sutar

Q3. Which State recently launched a rainwater harvesting awareness campaign with the ‘Thuli’ mascot?
A. Andhra Pradesh
B. Karnataka
C. Tamil Nadu
D. Kerala

Q4. According to John Maynard Keynes, which of the following statements best explains the relationship between savings and investment in an economy?
A. Higher household savings automatically lead to an equal increase in business investment
B. Interest rates alone determine the equality between savings and investment
C. Business investment generates income, which in turn creates savings
D. Business investment depends entirely on the amount of money saved by households

Q5. The Shamonda virus, recently reported in a human for the first time in France, is primarily transmitted by which of the following?
A. Mosquitoes
B. Biting midges
C. Ticks
D. Sandflies