This is the current affairs 24 & 25 October 2026. Here are questions and answers of daily current affairs for better preparation of competitive exams for government jobs.
1. In which Union Territory is the ‘Baratang Karst-Mud-Volcano Complex’ located, which has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List?
a. Andaman and Nicobar Islands
b. Jammu and Kashmir
c. Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu
d. Lakshadweep
Answer: a. Andaman and Nicobar Islands
– India’s Permanent Delegation to UNESCO announced this on 20 October 2026.
– It is located on Baratang Island in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
– It features limestone caves and active mud volcanoes.
– It is the only active mud volcano in South Asia.
– Local people call these mud volcanoes ‘Jalki’.
– They do not emit fire, lava, or hot boiling rocks.
– Due to the extreme pressure exerted on underground shale layers, mud, water, and methane gas come out.
– Methane gas bubbles continuously rise through its vents.
– Before an eruption, a slight sound is heard, similar to gas leaking.
– The mud here is not hot.
– Along with mud volcanoes, this complex also includes remarkable limestone caves and distinctive karst landforms.
– The mud volcanoes on Baratang Island are spread across four groups, containing several small vents.
– Its proposed area covers approximately 0.0123 square kilometres (1.23 hectares) and is located in a reserved forest area near Jarawa Creek.
– After remaining dormant for a long time, the mud volcanoes here became active again in 2025.
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2. Which Union Territory’s ‘Andaman Subduction Volcano’ has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List?
a. Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu
b. Andaman and Nicobar Islands
c. Lakshadweep
d. Puducherry
Answer: b. Andaman and Nicobar Islands
– This volcanic region was formed due to the subduction of the Burma Microplate beneath the Indo-Australian Plate.
– When the Indian Plate sinks beneath another plate, extreme pressure and temperature inside the Earth lead to the formation of magma, which emerges on the surface as a volcano.
– This heritage site includes Barren Island and Narcondam, two volcanic islands with very different characteristics.
– Barren Island is India’s only confirmed active volcano.
– Its volcanic activity has been recorded since 1787.
– Activity was reported in 2025 and in early 2026.
– The island’s landscape has been formed by repeated eruptions.
– The waters surrounding it are known for their marine life.
– On the other hand, Narcondam is a forested volcanic island.
– It is home to the Narcondam Hornbill, a bird that is not found anywhere else in the world.
– There are also strict restrictions on visiting this island.
– Therefore, it is not a regular tourist destination.
– These islands are important for studying volcanic activity and ecosystems that develop in isolated environments.
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3. The ‘Sirpur Cultural and Archaeological Landscape’ of which state has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List?
a. Rajasthan
b. Uttar Pradesh
c. Chhattisgarh
d. Madhya Pradesh
Answer: c. Chhattisgarh
– Located on the banks of the Mahanadi River in Mahasamund district of Chhattisgarh, Sirpur was an important settlement between the 5th and 12th centuries.
– Its surviving remains include Hindu temples, Buddhist monasteries, and Jain structures!
– These make it an important place for understanding the religious and cultural history of the region.
– One of its famous monuments is the Lakshman Temple!
– This Lakshman Temple is made of bricks and is famous for its architectural design and intricately carved doorway.
– The archaeological remains of Sirpur indicate that it was a settlement that had not only a group of religious monuments but also houses, markets, and craft activities.
Tentative World Heritage Site
– These are sites proposed by the government of a country for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List in the future.
– They are placed on the Tentative List.
– A site must first be included in the Tentative List before it can officially become a World Heritage Site.
– This is an initial stage.
India’s 78 Tentative World Heritage Sites
1) Group of Monuments at Mandu, Madhya Pradesh: 03/07/1998
2) Mattancherry Palace, Ernakulam, Kerala: 03/07/1998
3) Temples of Bishnupur, West Bengal: 03/07/1998
4) Sri Harmandir Sahib, Amritsar, Punjab: 05/01/2004
5) Majuli River Island in the Middle of the Brahmaputra River, Assam: 02/03/2004
6) Wild Ass Sanctuary, Little Rann of Kutch, Gujarat: 15/03/2006
7) Namdapha National Park, Arunachal Pradesh: 15/03/2006
8) Desert National Park, Rajasthan: 26/05/2009
9) Neora Valley National Park, West Bengal: 26/05/2009
10) Silk Road Sites in India, Various States: 20/01/2010
11) Qutb Shahi Monuments of Hyderabad: Golconda Fort, Qutb Shahi Tombs and Charminar, Telangana: 10/09/2010
12) Mughal Gardens of Kashmir, Jammu and Kashmir: 13/12/2010
13) Delhi: A Heritage City, Delhi: 22/05/2012
14) Bahá’í House of Worship, New Delhi: 15/04/2014
15) Chettinad: Clusters of Tamil Merchants’ Villages, Tamil Nadu: 15/04/2014
16) Extension of the Mountain Railways of India, Various States: 15/04/2014
17) Archaeological Remains of the Harappan Port-Town of Lothal, Gujarat: 15/04/2014
18) Neolithic Settlement of Burzahom, Jammu and Kashmir: 15/04/2014
19) Ekamra Kshetra: The Temple City of Bhubaneswar, Odisha: 15/04/2014
20) Narcondam Island, Andaman and Nicobar Islands: 15/04/2014
21) Thembang Fortified Village, Arunachal Pradesh: 15/04/2014
22) Satyagraha Sites: Sites of India’s Non-Violent Freedom Movement, Various States: 15/04/2014
23) Padmanabhapuram Palace, Tamil Nadu: 15/04/2014
24) Chilika Lake, Odisha: 15/04/2014
25) Monuments of Srirangapatna Island Town, Karnataka: 15/04/2014
26) Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam, Tamil Nadu: 15/04/2014
27) Apatani Cultural Landscape, Arunachal Pradesh: 15/04/2014
28) Iconic Saree Weaving Clusters of India, Various States: 15/04/2014
29) Cellular Jail, Andaman Islands, Andaman and Nicobar Islands: 15/04/2014
30) Monuments and Forts of the Deccan Sultanate, Various States: 15/04/2014
31) Aihole-Badami-Pattadakal: Evolution of Temple Architecture, Karnataka: 09/02/2015
32) Sites along Uttarapath, Badshahi Road, Sadak-e-Azam and the Grand Trunk Road, Various States: 15/04/2015
33) Cold Desert Cultural Landscape of India, Himachal Pradesh: 15/04/2015
34) Keibul Lamjao Conservation Area, Manipur: 11/03/2016
35) Garo Hills Conservation Area, Meghalaya: 26/07/2018
36) Historic Ensemble of Orchha, Madhya Pradesh: 15/04/2019
37) Satpura Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh: 13/04/2021
38) Bhedaghat-Lametaghat, Narmada Valley, Madhya Pradesh: 13/04/2021
39) Hire Benakal, Megalithic Site, Karnataka: 13/04/2021
40) Temples of Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu: 13/04/2021
41) Iconic Riverfront of the Historic City of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh: 13/04/2021
42) Sri Veerabhadra Temple and Monolithic Nandi, Lepakshi, Vijayanagara Sculpture and Painting Tradition, Andhra Pradesh: 17/02/2022
43) Jingkieng Jri: Living Root Bridges Cultural Landscape, Meghalaya: 17/02/2022
44) Geoglyphs of the Konkan Region of India: Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka: 17/02/2022
45) Vadnagar: A Multi-Layered Historic Town of Gujarat, Gujarat: 13/12/2022
46) Unakoti, Rock-Cut Sculptures and Engravings in the Unakoti Range, Unakoti District, Tripura: 13/12/2022
47) Sun Temple, Modhera and Its Surrounding Monuments, Gujarat: 13/12/2022
48) Serial Nomination of Coastal Fortifications along the Konkan Coast of Maharashtra, Maharashtra: 03/01/2024
49) Historic Ensemble of Dhamnar, Madhya Pradesh: 08/02/2024
50) Gond Monuments of Ramnagar, Mandla, Madhya Pradesh: 08/02/2024
51) Bhojeshwar Mahadev Temple, Bhojpur, Madhya Pradesh: 08/02/2024
52) Rock Art Sites of the Chambal Valley, Madhya Pradesh: 08/02/2024
53) Khooni Bhandara, Burhanpur, Madhya Pradesh: 08/02/2024
54) Gwalior Fort, Madhya Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh: 08/02/2024
55) Palaces and Forts of the Bundelas, Madhya Pradesh: 11/02/2025
56) Gupta Temples of North India: Serial Nomination, Various States: 11/02/2025
57) Chausath Yogini Temples: Serial Nomination, Various States: 11/02/2025
58) Serial Nomination of Ashokan Edict Sites along the Mauryan Routes, Various States: 11/02/2025
59) Mudumal Megalithic Menhirs, Telangana: 11/02/2025
60) Kanger Valley National Park, Chhattisgarh: 11/02/2025
61) Salkhan Fossil Park, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh: 04/06/2025
62) Natural Heritage: Varkala, Kerala: 27/08/2025
63) Natural Heritage of the Tirumala Hills, Andhra Pradesh: 27/08/2025
64) Natural Heritage of Erra Matti Dibbalu, Andhra Pradesh: 27/08/2025
65) Caves of the Meghalayan Age, Meghalaya: 27/08/2025
66) Geological Heritage of St. Mary’s Islands, Karnataka: 27/08/2025
67) Deccan Traps of Panchgani and Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra: 27/08/2025
68) Naga Hill Ophiolite, Nagaland: 27/08/2025
69) Serial Nomination of Buddhist Triangle Sites of Odisha, Odisha: 22/12/2025
70) Colonial Penal Settlement of the Andaman Islands, Andaman and Nicobar Islands: 22/05/2026
71) Nicobari Cultural Continuity in the Central Nicobar Islands, Andaman and Nicobar Islands: 22/05/2026
72) Painted Havelis of Shekhawati, Rajasthan: 01/06/2026
73) Rangpur: Historic Ensemble of Sivasagar, Assam: 19/06/2026
74) Bagh Cave Paintings, Dhar, Madhya Pradesh: 08/07/2026
75) Temple Groups of the Chambal Valley: Bateshwar, Padawali and Kakanmath, Morena, Madhya Pradesh: 08/07/2026
76) Udayagiri Caves, Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh: 08/07/2026
77) Ginnorgarh Fort, Raisen, Madhya Pradesh: 08/07/2026
78) Satyagraha Sites: Nine Sites Associated with Mahatma Gandhi’s Satyagraha in India and South Africa: 03/10/2026
79) Baratang Karst-Mud-Volcano Complex, Andaman: 20/10/2026
80) Andaman Subduction Volcano: 20/10/2026
81) Sirpur Cultural and Archaeological Landscape, Chhattisgarh: 20/10/2026
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4. Under which Article did the Supreme Court declare internet use a fundamental right for children and call keeping them away from it absurd?
a. Only Article 14
b. Articles 21 and 19(1)(a)
c. Only Article 32
d. Articles 25 and 26
Answer: b. Articles 21 and 19(1)(a)
– On 15 October 2026, the Supreme Court was hearing the case of Just Rights for Children Alliance v. S. Harish and Others.
– The case concerned establishing an effective mechanism to prevent and remove the spread of illegal content related to child sexual exploitation and abuse material (CSEAM) on social media platforms.
– During the hearing, the bench of Justices J. B. Pardiwala and K. Vinod Chandran stated that using the internet is a fundamental right of every person, including children.
– This right is linked to Articles 21 and 19(1)(a) of the Constitution.
– The Court said that keeping children completely away from the internet would be absurd.
– Completely banning the internet for children because inappropriate content exists online is not appropriate.
– Such restrictions may lead children to less secure websites and platforms.
– The Court directed the Central Government to create a national database to strengthen the mechanism for identifying and removing CSEAM (illegal material related to child sexual exploitation and abuse).
– Social media companies will also have to report such content to the police or the cybercrime portal within two hours of removing it.
– The Court stated that the Central Government must also amend IT laws and rules if necessary.
Supreme Court’s Arguments Against Banning the Internet for Children
– An important medium for education.
– A ban does not guarantee safety.
– Risk of exposure to more unsafe websites.
– Risk to personal information.
Court’s Suggestions for Children’s Online Safety
– Keep accounts private.
– Limit contact with strangers.
– Control advertisements and content.
– Use child mode for young children.
– Parental consent is necessary.
– Include online safety in school education.
– The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and state educational institutions should prepare educational material with the help of child psychologists, teachers, and parenting experts.
Cases Related to Obscene Material Have Increased
– According to NCRB data presented by the Ministry of Home Affairs in the Lok Sabha on 29 July 2025, there were 44 cases related to obscene pictures and videos of children in 2018.
– This number increased to 1,171 in 2022.
– That is an increase of 26.6 times.
– Meanwhile, cybercrime cases registered against children increased from 232 in 2018 to 1,823 in 2022.
– However, the Central Government has not released data for the period after 2022.
Article 21
– Article 21 is a Fundamental Right under Part III of the Indian Constitution.
– It relates to the Right to Life and Personal Liberty.
– Under this Article, no person can be deprived of life or personal liberty except according to the procedure established by law.
– This right is available to both Indian citizens and foreigners.
Article 19(1)(a)
– Article 19(1)(a) is a Fundamental Right under Part III of the Indian Constitution.
– It provides all Indian citizens with freedom of speech and expression.
– It includes rights such as speaking, writing, expressing one’s views, and freedom of the press.
– This right is subject to reasonable restrictions specified under Article 19(2).
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5. In which East Asian high-mountain plateau region did a 7.0-magnitude earthquake occur on 22 October 2026, resulting in the deaths of 16 people?
a. Tajikistan
b. Tibet
c. China
d. Myanmar
Answer: b. Tibet
– Tibet is not officially an independent country; it is an autonomous region of China.
– The epicentre of the earthquake in Tibet was in Baqen County, Nagqu City.
– It occurred at a depth of less than 10 kilometres below the ground.
– This location is 400 kilometres from Lhasa, the capital of Tibet.
– Sixty-five people were injured in the earthquake.
– More than 12,000 people were moved to safe locations.
– According to China’s earthquake monitoring centre, 413 aftershocks, or smaller tremors, have been recorded so far following the main earthquake.
– According to preliminary reports, 339 houses also collapsed due to the earthquake.
– Tibet is among the regions of the world where the risk of earthquakes is high.
When Have Earthquakes Occurred?
– In January 2025, a 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Tingri County in Tibet, killing 400 people.
– Meanwhile, 13 people lost their lives in neighbouring Nepal.
– In 2010, a 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Yushu in the neighbouring Chinese province of Qinghai.
– It killed 2,698 people, and around 300 people went missing.
– On 26 August 2026, a large mass of snow and rocks broke off from a mountain near the Nepal border and fell into a river.
– Forty-three people died in this disaster.
Why Do Earthquakes Occur Repeatedly?
– There are two major tectonic plates beneath the Earth’s surface: the Indian Plate and the Eurasian Plate.
– The Indian Plate is slowly moving northwards and pushing against the Eurasian Plate.
– This pressure causes movement in the rocks beneath the ground.
– When the rocks suddenly shift, the ground begins to shake.
– This is what is called an earthquake.
– Pressure continues to accumulate in underground faults in Tibet. Therefore, earthquakes occur repeatedly in this region.
Tibet
– Autonomous region of which country: China
– Language: Tibetan
– Prime Minister of the government-in-exile: Penpa Tsering
– Currency: Chinese Yuan
– Population: 3.65 million
– Neighbouring countries: India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Myanmar.
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6. Who became the new Chairman of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) in October 2026?
a. Neelkanth Mishra
b. Ian Tyler
c. Sunil Kumar
d. Arun Kumar Singh
Answer: c. Sunil Kumar
– The government appointed Sunil Kumar on 22 October 2026.
– Fifty-eight-year-old Sunil Kumar is the Executive Director and Asset Manager of ONGC’s Mehsana Asset.
– He will replace Arun Kumar Singh, whose extended tenure ends on 6 December 2026.
– Sunil Kumar will take charge on 7 December.
– He will remain in this position until 31 December 2028.
– This also includes working on a contract after retirement.
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7. Name the host city for the first Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026.
a. Ahmedabad
b. Jaipur
c. Panaji
d. Chandigarh
Answer: a. Ahmedabad
– Organisers: The Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI), with the approval of the International Kabaddi Federation (IKF).
– Dates: 23 to 31 October 2026.
– Venue: Veer Savarkar Sports Complex in Ahmedabad.
– Number of countries: More than 400 players from 13 countries.
– It is being organised to support efforts to include kabaddi officially in the upcoming Commonwealth Games and to promote the sport internationally.
Participating Countries
– India
– Sri Lanka
– Bangladesh
– Nigeria
– Kenya
– Tanzania
– Canada
– Singapore
– Malaysia
– Uganda
– England
– Scotland
– Australia
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8. When is Mole Day celebrated?
a. 22 October
b. 23 October
c. 24 October
d. 25 October
Answer: b. 23 October
– This day is popular among chemistry enthusiasts.
– The mole is the SI unit of amount of substance.
– It is a base unit in the International System of Units.
– One mole of a substance is the amount that contains a specified number of particles.
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9. Between India and which other country was the naval exercise ‘Konkan-26’ held?
a. Australia
b. Japan
c. United Kingdom
d. USA
Answer: c. United Kingdom (It was held off the coast of Plymouth, Britain, from 8 to 15 October 2026.)
– Dates: 08–15 October 2026.
– Location: Plymouth, UK.
– Warship that participated: Stealth frigate INS Trishul.
– This is an exercise held alternately in India and the UK.
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10. Who have been jointly selected for the 2026 Nobel Prize in Economics?
a. Robert E. Hall and Michael Woodford
b. Raj Chetty and Michael Woodford
c. Robert E. Hall and Raj Chetty
d. Michael Woodford and Michael Kremer
Answer: a. Robert E. Hall and Michael Woodford
– Reason for the award: For their research and development of models concerning the ‘microeconomic foundations of macroeconomic stabilisation’.
– Robert E. Hall is a professor at Stanford University in California, and Michael Woodford is a professor at Columbia University in New York.
– The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced the names of these two American economists on 12 October 2026.
– The award is being given to both economists.
– The economic models they developed help governments and central banks around the world deal with market fluctuations, inflation, and economic shocks, and formulate policies.
– Their research explains why jobs decline during recessions and why controlling inflation is difficult.
– The two will equally share a prize amount of 12 million Swedish kronor, equivalent to Rs 115 million.
The Nobel Prize in Economics Is Different from the Other Nobel Prizes
– The Nobel Prize in Economics was not included in Alfred Nobel’s original will.
– Sweden’s central bank established it in 1968. Its official name is the ‘Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel’.
– The prize honours research that has made a significant contribution to understanding the economy or improving the ways in which decisions related to it are made.
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11. When is World Polio Day celebrated?
a. 25 October
b. 24 October
c. 23 October
d. 22 October
Answer: b. 24 October
– This day is observed worldwide every year to raise awareness about polio.
– World Polio Day is observed to commemorate the birthday of Jonas Salk.
– He was an American virologist who helped develop the world’s first safe and effective polio vaccine.
– On 12 April 1955, Dr Jonas Salk presented the polio vaccine to the world.
– Polio often spreads through the faeces of an infected person, which can reach other people through contaminated food and water, poor sanitation, and similar conditions. Therefore, along with vaccination, people were also informed about the importance of washing hands, drinking boiled water, and exclusively breastfeeding infants under six months of age.
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