This is the current affairs 27 & 29 October 2026. Here are questions and answers of daily current affairs for better preparation of competitive exams for government jobs.
1. In which sea did the cyclonic storm ‘Arnab’ form?
a. Arabian Sea
b. Bay of Bengal
c. Gulf of Kutch
d. Andaman Sea
Answer: b. Bay of Bengal
– Cyclonic storm ‘Arnab’ (Arnab) formed in the Bay of Bengal on 26 October 2026.
– By 27 October, it had become a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm.
Which states were affected?
State/Region: Impact
– Andhra Pradesh: Greatest direct impact, strong winds and heavy rain
– Odisha: Extremely heavy rain in southern districts
– Telangana: Rain affected some districts
– Chhattisgarh: Rain in southern and central regions
– Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh: Rain after the storm moved forward
– West Bengal: Rain and strong winds in some districts
How do cyclonic storms form?
– A cyclonic storm develops when an area of low pressure forms over the sea.
– The question here is: what is an area of low pressure over the sea, and how does it form?
– Global warming is responsible for this.
– When the sea temperature rises, or when the sea starts getting warmer, the heat causes air to rise. Surrounding air rushes in to fill the vacant space (creating something like a vacuum). This is called an area of low pressure.
– Since the oceans are vast, this process becomes very extensive.
– The warm air rises and air comes in from a large area, but the rising air also cools because the temperature decreases as we go higher.
– In this situation, the air above, which has cooled, also tends to come down, and this turns into a storm.
– The air rotates very rapidly.
– The sea plays a major role in absorbing global warming or heat from the Earth.
– In a way, it can be said that the sea tries to keep itself cool through cyclonic storms.
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2. Where did Cyclone ‘Arnab’ make landfall?
a. Coastal areas of Goa and Maharashtra
b. Coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry
c. Coastal areas of Tamil Nadu and Kerala
d. Coastal areas of Odisha and West Bengal
Answer: b. Coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry (near east-northeast of Narsapur in Andhra Pradesh (approximately 20 km) and southwest of Yanam (approximately 40 km), between the coastal areas of Bapatla and Visakhapatnam)
What is the “landfall” of a cyclone?
– In simple terms, landfall is the event in which a cyclone, after being over water, reaches land.
– Severe Cyclonic Storm Arnab (Cyclone Arnab) made landfall along the coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry (Yanam).
– According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), it hit the coast in the early hours of 28 October 2026 (between 2 a.m. and 8 a.m.).
– Exact location: near east-northeast of Narsapur in Andhra Pradesh (approximately 20 km) and southwest of Yanam (approximately 40 km), between the coastal areas of Bapatla and Visakhapatnam.
– Wind speed: During landfall, wind speeds were 125 to 135 kilometres per hour, reaching up to 150 km/h in gusts.
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1. Economic losses
– Estimated losses in Andhra Pradesh: approximately ?4,600 crore.
– Electricity infrastructure suffered losses of approximately ?500 crore.
– Paddy, banana, coconut and other crops suffered heavy damage.
2. Loss of life and property
– Reports on 29 October reported at least 3 deaths.
– A later report on 29 October reported 7 deaths in Andhra Pradesh in incidents related to the storm.
– Approximately 180 houses were damaged.
– More than 220 trees were uprooted.
3. Agricultural damage
– Approximately 70,900 hectares of agricultural and horticultural area were affected.
– Crops were submerged or damaged across approximately 10,450 hectares.
4. Other impacts
– Thousands of electricity poles were uprooted.
– Roads were damaged.
– Rail and air services were affected.
– More than 180,000 people in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha had already been moved to safe locations.
Major states affected by the storm
– Andhra Pradesh – most severely affected
– Odisha – heavy rain and flooding
– Puducherry – damage in coastal areas
– Chhattisgarh – impact of heavy rain
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3. Which country named the cyclonic storm ‘Arnab’?
a. UAE
b. Bangladesh
c. India
d. Yemen
Answer: b. Bangladesh
How are storms in the Indian Ocean named?
– The system for naming storms was established by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) / ESCAP (United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific) Panel.
– Thirteen countries in the Indian Ocean region decide the names of cyclonic storms.
– These countries include India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, the Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Thailand, Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Yemen.
– These 13 countries prepare a list of names in advance.
– As soon as a cyclone reaches a part of one of these countries, a different name from the list is assigned to it.
– This not only makes cyclones easier to identify but also helps with rescue operations.
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4. In which state were proposals approved to grant ‘Wildlife Sanctuary’ status to the two forest areas ‘Colamarca Conservation Reserve’ and ‘Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary’, and to create 14 new conservation reserves?
a. Maharashtra
b. Gujarat
c. Rajasthan
d. Uttarakhand
Answer: a. Maharashtra
– The decision was taken on 26 October 2026 at the 26th meeting of the Maharashtra State Board for Wildlife (SBWL), chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
– ‘Colamarca Conservation Reserve’, located in Gadchiroli district, has now been granted ‘Wildlife Sanctuary’ status.
– This area is considered an important natural habitat for endangered wild Asian buffaloes.
– In addition, approval was given to include 588.767 hectares of private and revenue land belonging to six villages (Ogda, Khodde, Tirmal, Pachghar, Fansad and Amle) for the expansion of Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary.
– The aim is to make the sanctuary free of human settlements.
Declared Critical Wildlife Habitats
– The board approved proposals to declare 100.139 square kilometres within Koka Wildlife Sanctuary and 255.79 square kilometres within Jayakwadi Bird Wildlife Sanctuary as Critical Wildlife Habitats. – Routine works such as dam repairs, rehabilitation and desilting will be included in the sanctuary management plan.
– Approval was granted for essential civic projects (irrigation, drinking water, roads, bridges, electricity transmission, medical units and underground optical fibre cables) in protected areas, eco-sensitive areas and tiger corridors.
These are the proposed 14 new conservation reserves across 7 districts
– Pune and Raigad: Velhe-Mulshi and Lonavala
– Pune: Bhor-Girigad
– Nashik: Dindori, Surgana and Taharabad
– Nandurbar: Chinchpada
– Raigad: Alibag and Ghera Manikgad
– Thane: Gumtara
– Palghar: Jawhar, Asherigarh and Dhamani
– Chandrapur: Ekara
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5. Yasuo Fukuda, the former Prime Minister of which country, passed away on 26 October 2026?
a. China
b. Japan
c. South Korea
d. Malaysia
Answer: b. Japan
– Yasuo Fukuda, aged 90, served as Prime Minister of Japan from September 2007 to September 2008.
– He and his father, Takeo Fukuda, were the first father-son pair in Japan’s history to become prime ministers.
– Yasuo was born on 16 July 1936 in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture, and graduated from Waseda University.
– Before becoming prime minister, Fukuda served as Chief Cabinet Secretary from 2000 to 2004.
– During and after his tenure, he made special efforts to strengthen bilateral relations and diplomatic cooperation with China.
– In May 2008, he hosted Chinese President Hu Jintao, the first visit to Japan by a Chinese head of state in a decade.
Japan
– Emperor: Naruhito
– Prime Minister: Sanae Takaichi
– Capital: Tokyo
– Currency: Japanese yen
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6. K. Damodaran, a Padma Shri award recipient, passed away on 25 October 2026. What was he known for?
a. Cartoonist
b. Writer
c. Chef
d. Musician
Answer: c. Chef
– Dr. K. Damodaran, aged 72, was known as Chef Damu.
– He received the Padma Shri in 2025 for his contribution to culinary arts. He was a judge on the Tamil television programme Cooku with Comali.
– He was born on 3 September 1954 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
– He obtained a diploma in Hotel Management and Catering Technology from the Institute of Hotel Management in Taramani, Chennai.
– He earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Madurai Kamaraj University and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Madras.
– In 2004, he received a PhD in Hotel Management and Catering Technology from the University of Madras.
– He was the first Indian chef to obtain this qualification.
– For this reason, he was also called ‘Doctor Chef’.
– In December 2010, he entered the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest individual cooking marathon.
– He set this record by cooking 617 dishes in 24 hours, 30 minutes and 12 seconds.
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7. For the how many-th time was Lula da Silva elected President of Brazil?
a. First time
b. Second time
c. Third time
d. Fourth time
Answer: d. Fourth time (Full name: Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva)
– The result of the Brazilian election was announced on 26 October 2026.
– Lula da Silva of the Workers’ Party defeated Flavio Bolsonaro of the Liberal Party (PL), a supporter of US President Trump.
– In the 2022 election, Lula had also defeated Jair Bolsonaro, Flavio’s father and former President of Brazil.
– Direct presidential elections began in Brazil in 1989.
– Since then, this was the first time that a candidate who had finished second in the first round won the final round and became president.
– Relations between Brazil and India remain strong.
First contested the presidential election in 1989
– Lula da Silva was born on 27 October 1945 in Garanhuns, Brazil.
– He worked as a mechanical turner and trade union leader.
– Lula da Silva, aged 80, first contested the presidential election in 1989.
– However, he had to wait until 2002 to win. He was also elected president in 2006.
Was sentenced in a money-laundering case
– In 2017, a court convicted Lula of corruption and money laundering.
– He was sentenced to 9 years and 6 months in prison.
– The sentence was later increased to 12 years and 1 month.
– Lula was sent to prison in April 2018.
– He was released in November 2019.
– As a result, he was unable to contest the 2018 presidential election.
– In March 2021, Brazil’s Supreme Court overturned the decision convicting Lula.
– The court said that the court that had heard his case did not have the authority to do so.
Years in which he became president
– 2002: Became president for the first time.
– 2006: Became president again.
– 2010: Left office after completing two terms.
– 2022: Became president for the third time.
– 2026: Fourth time.
Brazil
– Capital: Brasília
– President: Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
– Currency: Real
– Neighbouring countries: French Guiana, Suriname, Guyana, Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina, Uruguay
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8. When is Indian Army Infantry Day celebrated?
a. 26 October
b. 27 October
c. 28 October
d. 29 October
Answer: b. 27 October
– This day is observed to remember the first military action of independent India.
– After independence in 1947, the Kashmir Valley was attacked by the Pakistani Army and Lashkar raiders.
– At that time, the 1st Battalion of the Indian Army’s Sikh Regiment fought to defeat the first attack on Indian soil.
What is infantry?
– Infantry is a general branch of the army that engages in military combat on foot. Soldiers in this branch fight the enemy at close quarters.
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9. Who won the 2026 Women’s Ballon d’Or award for the third time?
a. Alexia Putellas
b. Ewa Pajor
c. Khadija Shaw
d. Aitana Bonmatí
Answer: a. Alexia Putellas
– Alexia Putellas is a midfielder from Spain.
– Alexia had previously won this award twice in a row, in 2021 and 2022.
– The 32-year-old Putellas currently plays for London City Lionesses in the English Women’s Super League (WSL).
– Putellas played an important role in helping her former team Barcelona win several titles, including the Women’s Champions League, last season. She also contributed to Spain winning the Women’s Nations League title in December 2025.
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10. Who won the 2026 Men’s Ballon d’Or award?
a. Kylian Mbappé
b. Harry Kane
c. Lionel Messi
d. Lamine Yamal
Answer: b. Harry Kane
– Harry Kane is the captain of England’s football team and a star striker for Bayern Munich.
– He became the first English footballer to receive this award in 25 years.
– Before him, Michael Owen won the award in 2001.
– The Ballon d’Or award ceremony took place in London on 26 October 2026.
– The Ballon d’Or ceremony was held in London for the first time.
– Harry Kane scored 73 goals in 65 matches in the previous season.
– He was Europe’s top scorer.
Best Young Player: Lamine Yamal (Spain)
– He won this award for the third consecutive time.
– He plays for Spain’s national football team and La Liga club Barcelona.
Ballon d’Or award?
– It is the most prestigious and highest individual award in the world of football.
– It is a French term meaning ‘Golden Ball’.
– It was first introduced in 1956.
– It is awarded every year by the famous French football magazine ‘France Football’.
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11. When is World Day for Audiovisual Heritage celebrated?
a. 26 October
b. 27 October
c. 28 October
d. 29 October
Answer: b. 27 October
– UNESCO and the Coordinating Council of Audiovisual Archives Associations (CCAAA) have declared this day.
– The purpose of observing this day is to make everyone aware of audiovisual sounds and images.
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12. When is Jammu and Kashmir Accession (Merger) Day celebrated?
a. 20 October
b. 21 October
c. 24 October
d. 26 October
Answer: d. 26 October
– This day is observed in remembrance of 26 October 1947.
– On this day, Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession, through which Jammu and Kashmir joined the Dominion of India.
– Accession Day is a public holiday in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Note: After the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A on 5 August 2019, this day became an official public holiday in Jammu and Kashmir for the first time in 2020.
Jammu and Kashmir
– Capital: Srinagar (summer), Jammu (winter)
– Chief Minister: Omar Abdullah
– Lieutenant Governor: Manoj Sinha
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13. From when to when is Disarmament Week observed?
a. 20 to 27 October
b. 21 to 28 October
c. 22 to 29 October
d. 24 to 30 October
Answer: d. 24 to 30 October
– This week begins on 24 October, the United Nations’ founding day, and continues until 30 October.
– One of the United Nations’ main goals is to achieve world peace.
– It is observed every year to promote awareness and understanding of disarmament issues.
– The aim of the week is to reduce the use of weapons, especially nuclear weapons, to bring peace to society.
United Nations
Secretary-General – António Guterres
Headquarters – New York
Established – 1945
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14. To whom did the Assam government announce it would present the first ‘Bharat Ratna Dr. Bhupen Hazarika National Award’?
a. Usha Mangeshkar
b. Asha Bhosle
c. Anuradha Paudwal
d. Alka Yagnik
Answer: a. Usha Mangeshkar
– The ‘Bharat Ratna Dr. Bhupen Hazarika National Award’ has been introduced by the Government of India and the Assam government to honour contributions to Indian music, art and culture.
– Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the name of renowned singer Usha Mangeshkar for this award on 23 October 2026.
– Prime Minister Narendra Modi will present the honour on 29 November at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, on the occasion of the concluding ceremony of the birth centenary year of musician Dr. Bhupen Hazarika.
– The Assam Cabinet approved the launch of this award to honour personalities who contribute to music and culture and to preserve the legacy of the singer, composer and filmmaker.
– This award will be given every three years to a person recognised at the international or national level in music, arts or cinema.
– It will include ?10 lakh in cash and a citation.
Bhupen Hazarika
– Bhupen Hazarika was born in 1926 in Sadiya, in present-day Assam.
– He worked as a singer, composer, lyricist and filmmaker.
– He was posthumously awarded India’s highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna, in 2019.
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15. Who became the first Indian physicist to receive the Oskar Klein Medal in 2026?
a. Dr. Jayant Narlikar
b. Professor Ashoke Sen
c. Igor R. Klebanov
d. Professor Deepak Dhar
Answer: b. Professor Ashoke Sen
– Theoretical physicist Ashoke Sen delivered the 2026 Oskar Klein Memorial Lecture on 22 October 2026 at the Albanova Centre of Stockholm University.
– Its title was “From Strings to Gravity and from Gravity to Strings”.
– Ashoke Sen is the ICTS-Infosys Madhava Chair Professor at the International Centre for Theoretical Sciences (ICTS) in Bengaluru.
– His work in string theory spans more than four decades.
– He received the Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics in 2012.
– He received the Dirac Medal in 2014.
String theory and Sen’s contribution
– String theory is a theoretical framework in which fundamental entities are modelled as one-dimensional strings.
– Their vibrational states are associated with different particles.
– Ashoke Sen’s contributions include work on S-duality, black hole entropy and string field theory.
Oskar Klein
– This is a prestigious international award in the field of theoretical physics, often called the “Oskar Klein Prize”.
– The award is jointly presented every year by Stockholm University and the Nobel Committee of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.
– It was established in 1988 in memory of Swedish theoretical physicist Oskar Klein.
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16. National Unity Day is celebrated on 31 October on the birth anniversary of which great man?
a. Bhagat Singh
b. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
c. Jawaharlal Nehru
d. Chandrashekhar Azad
Answer: b. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
– Since 2014, 31 October has been designated National Unity Day every year to mark the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the Iron Man of India.
– He was also India’s first Deputy Prime Minister.
– In 2023, it was the 147th birth anniversary of freedom fighter Vallabhbhai Patel.
– Sardar Vallabhbhai played a major role in integrating 565 princely states into India.
– This is why National Unity Day is observed on Vallabhbhai Patel’s birth anniversary.
– In his memory, the Government of India built a huge statue near the Narmada River in Gujarat.
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17. When is World Cities Day celebrated?
a. 20 October
b. 24 October
c. 29 October
d. 31 October
Answer: d. 31 October
2026 Theme
– Regenerating the City: Adequate Housing for All
– “Regenerating the City: Adequate Housing for All”
– The United Nations General Assembly has declared this day.
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