Daily Current Affairs — 08 October 2026
Daily Current Affairs · 08 October 2026
10 fully-analysed topics · 30 bilingual MCQs · 3 embedded videos · built for UPSC Prelims & Mains
🎯 30 MCQs
🎬 3 Videos
🇮🇳 Hindi + English
Indian History MCQ Quiz · भारतीय इतिहास प्रश्नोत्तरी
Members-only quiz on the Netmock channel – bilingual, exam-standard
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Defence
SAREX-2026
The 12th National Maritime Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX-2026) is set to be inaugurated, with a Search and Rescue (SAR) demonstration scheduled off the Paradip coast, Odisha.
- The exercise is being organised by the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and includes 32 observers from 30 countries
- The scenario includes a passenger aircraft carrying 228 persons ditching at sea and colliding with container vessel MV Zumba.
Which of the following statements about SAREX-2026 is correct?
Correct. The three wrong options each change one thing from the source: a figure, the institution involved, the direction of change, or a qualifier turned into an absolute.
Not quite. The three wrong options each change one thing from the source: a figure, the institution involved, the direction of change, or a qualifier turned into an absolute. The green option is the correct one.
History
Indian Coast Guard
On 1st February 2022, Indian Coast Guard (ICG) celebrated its 46th Raising Day.
- ICG was established in August 1978 by the Coast Guard Act, 1978 as an independent Armed force of India.
- As the fourth largest Coast Guard in the world
- Background: It is an Armed Force, Search and Rescue and Maritime Law Enforcement agency under the Ministry of Defence.
- The concept of forming ICG came into being after the 1971 war.
Show 6 more facts
- The blueprint for a multidimensional Coast Guard was conceived by the visionary Rustamji Committee.
- For effective command and control, the Maritime Zones of India are divided into five Coast Guard Regions, namely, North-West, West, East, North-East
- Preventing Smuggling: One of the primary duties of the ICG is prevention of smuggling through maritime routes
- It is responsible for marine environment protection in maritime zones of India
- It is also working in close coordination with Central and State agencies to put in place a robust coastal security mechanism.
- Under SAGAR' – Security and Growth for all in the Region & 'Neighbourhood First' policy
Which of the following statements about Indian Coast Guard is correct?
Correct. The three wrong options each change one thing from the source: a figure, the institution involved, the direction of change, or a qualifier turned into an absolute.
Not quite. The three wrong options each change one thing from the source: a figure, the institution involved, the direction of change, or a qualifier turned into an absolute. The green option is the correct one.
Economy
SAGAR Vision
Economy
OJ 287: Rare Binary Black Hole System
A 10-year study of OJ 287, involving scientists from the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), Nainital, Uttarakhand, has.
- Key Findings: The observations helped determine the relative positions of the two black holes
Economy
Black Hole
Indian History NCERT MCQ | Lecture 2: 6th
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Take a break from the news and watch the lesson more UPSC aspirants have watched than any other on this channel.
History
Gravitational Waves
Recently, an international team of astronomers announced scientific evidence confirming the presence of gravitational waves using pulsar observations.
- India's Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) was among the world's six large telescopes that played a vital role in providing this evidence.
- They reported the first direct evidence for the relentless vibrations of space-time caused by ultra-low frequency gravitational waves.
- They also set new limits on the strength and frequency of these waves, which are consistent with theoretical predictions.
- They are also tantalisingly close to the discovery of nanohertz gravitational waves
Show 6 more facts
- GMRT detects gravitational waves by using pulsars-the only accessible celestial clocks for humans, which are rapidly rotating neutron stars.
- Pulsars emit regular pulses of radio waves that can be used to measure their rotation periods and distances with high precision.
- By observing Pulsar timing arrays (PTAs) distributed across the sky
- GMRT is a crucial player in the PTA experiment, as it provides unique data at low radio frequencies and high sensitivity.
- PTAs are international collaborations of radio telescopes
- GMRT is part of the Indian Pulsar Timing Array (InPTA)
Defence
Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit Appointed 29th Chief of the Air Staff
Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit has been appointed as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff (CAS). He will succeed Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, who will superannuate on 31st October 2026.
- Service Profile: Commissioned into the Fighter Stream of the Indian Air Force in 1986 he has flown aircraft including Mirage-2000
- Operations and Exercises: He has participated in Operation Safed Sagar, Operation Rakshak, Exercise Cope India and Operation Sindoor
- Awards: He has received the Vayu Sena Medal (2006), Vishisht Seva Medal (2011), Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (2023) and Param Vishisht Seva Medal (2026).
Which of the following statements about Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit Appointed 29th Chief of the Air is correct?
Correct. The three wrong options each change one thing from the source: a figure, the institution involved, the direction of change, or a qualifier turned into an absolute.
Not quite. The three wrong options each change one thing from the source: a figure, the institution involved, the direction of change, or a qualifier turned into an absolute. The green option is the correct one.
Defence
Indian Air Force Day
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is celebrating 90th Air Force Day on 8th October.
- The primary event of the day is being observed at Chandigarh Air Force Station and consists of a parade and flyover.
- LCH "Prachanda, Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, Sukhoi, Mig-29, Jaguar, Rafale, IL-76, C-130J, and Hawk have taken part in the fly-past.
- Among helicopters, Advanced Light Helicopter Dhruv, Chinook, Apache and Mi-17 will be part of the aerial display.
- Background: The Indian Air Force was established in 1932 during World War II to support the Royal Air Force of the United Kingdom in its war against
Show 4 more facts
- President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces,
- The fourth-largest air force in the world is the Indian Air Force.
- Motto of India Air Force: Touch the sky with Glory. It was taken from the eleventh chapter of the Bhagavad Gita.
- After independence, IAF took part in wars with Pakistan and the People's Republic of China
With reference to Indian Air Force Day, consider the following statements:
- The primary event of the day is being observed at Chandigarh Air Force Station and consists of a parade and flyover
- LCH "Prachanda, Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, Sukhoi, Mig-29, Jaguar, Rafale, IL-152 C-130J, and Hawk have taken part in the fly-past
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Correct. Check each statement on its own before looking at the options. One of the two alters a figure, an institution or the direction of change stated in the source.
Not quite. Check each statement on its own before looking at the options. One of the two alters a figure, an institution or the direction of change stated in the source. The green option is the correct one.
Defence
IAF to Receive First Tejas Mk1A Fighter Jet
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is set to receive its first Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A, marking a significant milestone in India's indigenous fighter jet programme.
- About: The Tejas Mk1A is an upgraded variant of India's Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
- Purpose: This version is aimed to enhance operational and combat capabilities, survivability and maintainability over the baseline Mk1.
- Upgraded Flight Control Computer (DFCC Mk1A) for better maneuverability and stability.
- About: The LCA Tejas programme, initiated by the Government of India in 1984, aimed to replace the ageing MiG-21 fighter jets
Show 3 more facts
- Tejas Trainer: 2-seater operational conversion trainer for training air force pilots.
- LCA Tejas Navy MK2: This is phase 2 of the LCA Navy variant.
- LCA Tejas Mk-1A: This is an improvement over the LCA Tejas Mk1 with a higher thrust engine.
Which of the following statements about IAF to Receive First Tejas Mk1A Fighter Jet is correct?
Correct. The three wrong options each change one thing from the source: a figure, the institution involved, the direction of change, or a qualifier turned into an absolute.
Not quite. The three wrong options each change one thing from the source: a figure, the institution involved, the direction of change, or a qualifier turned into an absolute. The green option is the correct one.
Defence
Operation Sindoor
India launched Operation Sindoor in retaliation for the April 2025 Pahalgam terrorist attack, targeting 9 terrorist infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK).
- About: Operation Sindoor was a coordinated precision strike operation launched by the Indian Armed Forces on 7th May 2025
- Unlike past operations with aggressive names meant to project strength
- High-Precision Weapons Involved in Operation Sindoor: Indian Air Force (IAF) used advanced systems like SCALP Cruise Missiles
- Combat Use: The missile has been used in combat scenarios
Show 6 more facts
- HAMMER Precision-Guided Bomb: The HAMMER (Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range) missile was used to engage targets requiring medium-range
- Key Features: HAMMER can be fitted with various guidance systems
- Loitering Munitions: Also known as "kamikaze drones"
- Operation Riddle (1965 Indo-Pak War): It was India's response to Pakistan's Operation Gibraltar and Grand Slam in 1965
- Operation Ablaze (1965 Indo-Pak War): It was a pre-emptive mobilisation by the Indian Army in April 1965
- The operation, along with Operation Riddle, helped push back Pakistan and led to the Tashkent Agreement (1966).
Which of the following statements about Operation Sindoor is correct?
Correct. The three wrong options each change one thing from the source: a figure, the institution involved, the direction of change, or a qualifier turned into an absolute.
Not quite. The three wrong options each change one thing from the source: a figure, the institution involved, the direction of change, or a qualifier turned into an absolute. The green option is the correct one.
Indian Geography MCQ Quiz · भारतीय भूगोल प्रश्नोत्तरी
A second members-only subject quiz – lock in today's study session
Current affairs alone will not clear Prelims. Close the day on the static syllabus with this members-only quiz.
