21 October 2026
President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu presented the awards of the 65th National Exhibition of Art and the 3rd Print Biennale India 2026 at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi on 21 October 2026. Twenty artists were chosen for the awards out of 2,495 artists whose 6,175 artworks were received from 27 States and Union Territories, and 270 artworks were selected for exhibition. The exhibition is organised by the Lalit Kala Akademi under the Ministry of Culture. Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Shri Vivek Aggarwal attended. The Lalit Kala Akademi was established in 1954 and the National Exhibition of Art began in 1955 at Jaipur House with about 1,200 entries. The Ministry of Culture will hold India Biennale 2026 from 4 December 2026 to 21 March 2027 at monuments and heritage sites in Delhi.
Edition:
65th National Exhibition of Art
Artworks received:
6,175 from 2,495 artists
Awards given:
20
Works exhibited:
270
Lalit Kala Akademi established:
1954
Why it matters for exams: The founding year of the Lalit Kala Akademi and the national academies under the Ministry of Culture are standard art and culture questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Lalit Kala Akademi National Academy of Art — The autonomous national academy for the visual arts, set up in 1954 under the Ministry of Culture.
21 October 2026
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal will visit Germany from 22 to 24 October 2026 and the Netherlands from 24 to 27 October 2026. In Berlin he will take part in the Berlin Global Dialogue and hold bilateral meetings on the sidelines with the German Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy and with the Economic and Financial Policy Advisor and G7 and G20 Sherpa at the Federal Chancellery. The talks will cover trade and investment corridors, advanced engineering, green mobility, clean technology and market access tied to the ongoing India-European Union free trade agreement negotiations. In The Hague he will meet the Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate and the Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, and hold discussions with the King's Commissioner of North Holland and members of Dutch parliamentary committees on foreign trade and European affairs. He will address the India-Netherlands Business Forum on 26 October, followed by six parallel sectoral roundtables. About 100 businesses and startups will accompany him, and the business delegation will visit the Port of Rotterdam on 25 October.
Germany visit:
22 to 24 October 2026, Berlin
Netherlands visit:
24 to 27 October 2026, The Hague
Business delegation:
About 100 businesses and startups
Port visit:
Port of Rotterdam, 25 October
Why it matters for exams: The India-European Union free trade agreement negotiations and India's trade diplomacy with individual member states are examined in international relations.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Sherpa Sherpa — A leader's personal representative who prepares the agenda for summits such as the G20.
20 October 2026
A bench of Justice Ajit Kumar and Justice Garima Prashad of the Allahabad High Court directed the Union Government and the Reserve Bank of India to file affidavits stating whether they have proposals or have framed guidelines for releasing money from the savings account of a person in a comatose state to that person's dependants. The court observed that such dependants can be absolutely remediless because they may lack funds for hospital costs and household needs. The petition was filed by Parveen Jahan, whose husband was in a comatose state and who died while the petition was pending. The court directed the petitioner to implead the Reserve Bank through its Executive Director (Banking Regulation) and the Union of India through the Secretary, Ministry of Finance, and said it may summon the responsible officers if the Reserve Bank fails to file its affidavit. The bench suggested that the Uttar Pradesh Government consider implementing the guidelines framed in Shobha Gopalakrishnan v. State of Kerala, and directed the Chief Secretary to propose a concrete and substantial solution at the State level or appear personally. The court referred to Uma Mittal and Others v. Union of India and Others, in which the Central Government was directed to enact legislation on appointing a guardian for a person in a vegetative state. The next hearing is on 6 November.
Court and bench:
Allahabad High Court, Justice Ajit Kumar and Justice Garima Prashad
Petitioner:
Parveen Jahan
Bodies directed to file affidavits:
Union of India and the Reserve Bank of India
Precedent suggested:
Shobha Gopalakrishnan v. State of Kerala
Next hearing:
6 November
Why it matters for exams: The Kerala High Court guidelines in Shobha Gopalakrishnan and the gap in law on guardianship of comatose persons are frequently examined.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Implead Implead — To add a person or body as a party to an ongoing case.
Affidavit Affidavit — A written statement sworn before an authorised officer and filed in court as evidence.
21 October 2026
The Army Commanders' Conference, the apex-level biannual forum of the Indian Army, commenced in New Delhi on 21 October 2026 and runs until 23 October.
It is chaired by the Chief of the Army Staff and brings together the Army's senior leadership.
Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh is to address the conference and release the Land Warfare Doctrine, a framework for the evolving character of warfare.
He is also to unveil the annual United Nations Journal and felicitate Army personnel who served as United Nations peacekeepers.
The Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of the Naval Staff and the Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology will deliver talks.
The COAS will confer awards for Green Military Stations and Aviation Flight Safety.
Dates:
21 to 23 October 2026
Venue:
New Delhi
Document to be released:
Land Warfare Doctrine
Why it matters for exams: Defence doctrines and the Army's top-level forums are frequently asked in UPSC and state PSC defence questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
21 October 2026
Scientists of the Raman Research Institute (RRI), an autonomous institution of the Department of Science and Technology, have found that the X-ray pulsar Centaurus X-3 gathers material through an accretion disk.
The study, announced on 21 October 2026, was led by RRI researcher Kinjal Roy, who examined four secondary emission lines.
The structure causing the variable lines co-rotates with the pulsar and was identified as the accretion stream.
An accretion disk is rare in high-mass X-ray binaries, where material is usually captured directly from the stellar wind.
Centaurus X-3 is a high-mass X-ray binary whose companion is more than 10 times the Sun's mass; it lies 24000 light years away and was one of the first X-ray pulsars discovered.
Object:
Centaurus X-3
Distance:
24000 light years
Lead researcher:
Kinjal Roy, RRI
Why it matters for exams: Pulsars, neutron stars and India's research institutions are recurring science and technology topics.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
HMXB High-mass X-ray binary — A pair in which a neutron star or black hole pulls matter from a massive companion star.
21 October 2026
The Indian Air Force held an Industry Outreach Programme at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, on 21 October 2026 on its long-term needs in unmanned and autonomous systems.
It was chaired by Air Marshal Premkumar K, Director General (Weapon Systems), Air Headquarters; around 100 representatives of drone companies and partners took part.
The event built on the 'IAF Unmanned and Autonomous Systems Roadmap', released during IAF Dronathon 2026 at Pokhran on 14 September 2026; roadmap booklets were given to industry.
The roadmap envisages a layered and networked family of unmanned systems that complement manned platforms.
Indigenous propulsion, autonomous software, resilient navigation and standardised interfaces were named as critical technology areas.
Venue:
Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi
Participants:
Around 100 representatives
Roadmap released:
IAF Dronathon 2026, Pokhran, 14 September 2026
Why it matters for exams: Drones, defence indigenisation and Aatmanirbharta in defence technology are regular defence and science questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
21 October 2026
Vummidi Ethiraj, the Chennai-based jeweller remembered for his role in crafting the historic Sengol, died on October 21, 2026, aged 99.
He was the patriarch of the Vummidi family, which owns Vummidi Bangaru Jewellers.
The Sengol, a gold-plated silver sceptre, was presented to Jawaharlal Nehru on the night of August 14, 1947 by priests of the Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam Mutt of Tamil Nadu.
On May 28, 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi installed the Sengol in the new Parliament building.
The Prime Minister condoled his death and recalled meeting him in 2023.
Age:
99
Sengol presented to Nehru:
August 14, 1947
Installed in new Parliament:
May 28, 2023
Why it matters for exams: The Sengol links the 1947 transfer of power with the 2023 new Parliament building, a favourite history-and-polity question.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
21 October 2026
Sachin Khilari retained his gold medal in the Men's Shot Put F46 event at the Asian Para Games 2026 with a season-best throw.
He led an all-Indian podium sweep in the event.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated him on 21 October 2026, calling the successful defence of the title extraordinary.
Athlete:
Sachin Khilari
Event:
Men's Shot Put F46
Medal:
Gold
Why it matters for exams: Medal winners and their classification events at the Asian Para Games are common sports questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
21 October 2026
Praveen Kumar successfully defended his gold medal in the Men's High Jump T64 event at the Asian Para Games 2026.
His jump broke his own Games Record.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated him on 21 October 2026, citing his consistency and sporting brilliance.
It continues Praveen Kumar's run of successes at the Asian Para Games.
Athlete:
Praveen Kumar
Event:
Men's High Jump T64
Medal:
Gold
Why it matters for exams: Medal winners and their classification events at the Asian Para Games are common sports questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
20 October 2026
Nishad Kumar won the gold medal in the Men's High Jump T47 at the Asian Para Games with a new Games Record.
He had already won gold in the Long Jump at the same Games.
He therefore finishes with two gold medals.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated him on 20 October 2026, calling his versatility remarkable.
Athlete:
Nishad Kumar
Event:
Men's High Jump T47
Medal:
Gold
Why it matters for exams: Medal winners and their classification events at the Asian Para Games are common sports questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
21 October 2026
Dilip Gavit won the gold medal in the Men's 100m T47 event at the Asian Para Games 2026.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated him on 21 October 2026 for an exceptional performance and brilliant timing.
The Prime Minister said his speed and skill had brought immense pride to the nation.
Athlete:
Dilip Gavit
Event:
Men's 100m T47
Medal:
Gold
Why it matters for exams: Medal winners and their classification events at the Asian Para Games are common sports questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
21 October 2026
Union Home Minister Amit Shah paid tribute at the National Police Memorial in New Delhi on Police Commemoration Day, 21 October 2026.
He said the Ministry of Home Affairs has set a target to free the country from the drug menace by December 31, 2029, and flagged off a nationwide 'Fight Against Drugs' motorcycle rally.
The day recalls 10 CRPF personnel who died resisting an attack by Chinese troops at Hot Springs in Ladakh on October 21, 1959.
The memorial, inaugurated in 2018, honours 36,852 police personnel.
Shah said more than 3,600 security personnel and nearly 13,700 civilians lost their lives to Naxalism between 1981 and March 2026.
Drug-free target:
December 31, 2029
Personnel honoured at memorial:
36,852
Hot Springs incident:
October 21, 1959; 10 CRPF personnel
Why it matters for exams: Police Commemoration Day, the Hot Springs incident and the Nasha Mukt Bharat target are standard internal-security facts.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC