Daily Current Affairs — 14 October 2026
Daily Current Affairs · 14 October 2026
10 fully-analysed topics · 30 bilingual MCQs · 3 embedded videos · built for UPSC Prelims & Mains
🎯 30 MCQs
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Indian Economy MCQ Quiz · भारतीय अर्थव्यवस्था प्रश्नोत्तरी
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Economy
NBA Disburses Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) Funds
The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) disbursed Rs 2.02 crore in Access.
- Cumulative Milestone: With this latest release
- Seed-Sector Contributions: Funds were collected from seven major seed firms for the commercial utilization of parental varieties
- Cultivation-Area-Based Apportionment: Because individual grassroots benefit-claimers could not be traced for market-procured crops
- Utilization of Funds: Disbursed capital will directly fund the operationalization of Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs)
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- Definition: ABS is a framework ensuring that the benefits (monetary or non-monetary) arising from the commercial or research utilization of genetic
Environment
Important CoPs of CBD
Environment
India Submits 7th National Report to the CBD
India has submitted its 7th National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
- Of the 23 national biodiversity targets, only two are on track
- About: This is India's first full progress assessment since the adoption of the KMGBF in 2022
- Report Significance: As one of the world's megadiverse countries, India's performance is critical to global biodiversity outcomes
- Targets On Track: Progress is tracked using 142 national indicators compiled through a digital NR7 data portal
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- NBT2 (Ecosystem Restoration): India has restored/placed under restoration 24.1 million hectares against its Bonn Challenge pledge of 26 million
- Marine protected areas have expanded, and the government is now identifying Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs) beyond the
- Land Degradation: Despite restoration efforts
- Conservation Coverage (30×30 Goal): Only a little over 5% of India's geographical area is designated as formal protected areas
- Species Recovery Bias: Success is highlighted for flagship species (tigers at 3,167
- Data Gaps and Monitoring: Biodiversity data is scattered across departments with no uniform methods for new indicators
Which of the following statements about India Submits 7th National Report to the CBD 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.
Environment
Cameroon Adopts Nagoya Protocol
Cameroon, located in central Africa and boasting a rich biodiversity with around 11,000 species of plants, animals.
- The Nagoya Protocol aims to promote the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources.
- Preserving Traditional Knowledge: Many of plants
- Both genetic resources and traditional knowledge are valuable for bioprospecting
- Cameroon's Bush Mango is a wealth of medical properties. The leaves, roots and bark are used to treat scabs and skin pain
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- None of the companies' profits benefited the communities where the plants were harvested.
- Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD): The CBD
- India enacted Biological Diversity Act, 2002 for giving effect to the provisions of the CBD.
- The Protocol seeks to protect biological diversity from the potential risks posed by living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology.
- The Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair
- It not only applies to genetic resources that are covered by the CBD
Which of the following statements about Cameroon Adopts Nagoya Protocol 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
Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission
The Government has highlighted the role of the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission in strengthening India's tribal forest economy by organising.
- About: PMJVM is a Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs
- Objective: It aims to promote tribal livelihoods and entrepreneurship through production
- Nodal Agency: TRIFED (Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India) is the central implementing agency
- Financial Support: Up to ₹15 lakh can be provided for setting up a VDVK
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- Definition of MFP: Under the Forest Rights Act (FRA)
- PESA Provision: The Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act
- MSP Support: The government has notified Minimum Support Price (MSP) for 87 MFP items under PMJVM
- Role of TRIFED: TRIFED purchases non-timber forest produce at the predetermined MSP through State implementing agencies
- Procurement Performance: Since 2013–14, State governments have procured about 2.68 lakh metric tonnes of MFP worth ₹693.98 crore under the scheme.
- Livelihood Importance: For millions of forest-dwelling tribal families, MFP is a critical source of subsistence and cash income
Which of the following statements about Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission 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.
Spectrum History MCQ 1 | Introduction
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Environment
India’s Green Pathway: From Conservation to Climate Action
India's evolving environmental strategy, highlighted in its "Green Pathway" approach, reflects a shift from conservation to integrated climate action.
- The country is also emerging as a key global voice on climate justice and sustainable development.
- Legal Foundation: Conservation is governed by the Biological Diversity Act (2002), aligning with the 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
- NBSAP 2024–2030: Launched at United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) – COP 16 (Saudi Arabia) the updated National Biodiversity
- Protected Areas: Expanded significantly from 745 in 2014 to 1,134 in 2025, with a focus on wildlife corridors for safe animal movement.
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- Key Species Projects: Project Tiger: Tiger Reserves increased to 58 (the newest being Madhav Tiger Reserve).
- Project Elephant: Expanded to 33 reserves, securing 150 elephant corridors across 15 states.
- Project Cheetah: The population has reached 30 (including 19 cubs born in India)
- Project Snow Leopard: The first assessment estimated 718 snow leopards (highest in Ladakh). Phase 2.0 was launched in late 2025.
- Project Dolphin: Estimated 6,327 riverine dolphins (2021–2023). A second range-wide survey covering major rivers launched in January 2026.
- International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA): India led multi-country
2. What is the significance of MISHTI? A mangrove restoration initiative enhancing coastal resilience and protecting against climate risks.
With reference to India’s Green Pathway: From Conservation to Climate Action, consider the following statements:
- The country is also emerging as a key global voice on climate justice and sustainable development
- Legal Foundation: Conservation is governed by the Biological Diversity Act (1999), aligning with the 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
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.
Environment
Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework
Recently, at the 15th Conference of Parties (COP15) to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity "Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework" (GBF) was adopted.
- GBF includes 4 goals and 23 targets for achievement by 2030.
- The first part of COP 15 took place in Kunming
- 30×30 Deal: Restore 30% degraded ecosystems globally (on land and sea) by 2030
- Conserve and manage 30% areas (terrestrial, inland water, and coastal and marine) by 2030
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- Money for Nature: Signatories aim to ensure USD200 billion per year is channelled to conservation initiatives, from public and private sources.
- Wealthier countries should contribute at least USD20 billions of this every year by 2025, and at least USD30 billion a year by 2030.
- Companies should analyse and report how their operations affect and are affected by biodiversity issues.
- The parties agreed to large companies and financial institutions being subject to "requirements" to make disclosures regarding their operations
- Countries committed to identify subsidies that deplete biodiversity by 2025, and then eliminate, phase out or reform them.
- They agreed to slash those incentives by at least USD500 billion a year by 2030 and increase incentives that are positive for conservation.
Which of the following statements about Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework 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
Foreign Exchange Risk Reserve
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has unveiled a comprehensive suite of emergency measures to stem the ongoing slide of the Indian rupee.
- The RBI's strategic deployment of the FERR is being widely analyzed by economists as a reversal of the "China playbook" on currency management.
- The Mechanism: In October 2026, the RBI introduced a 20% FERR on specified rupee-linked forex derivative contracts involving the purchase of foreign
- Provides Only "Breathing Room": Reminiscent of the 2013 Taper Tantrum curbs, these measures offer merely short-term tactical relief
- Regulatory Unpredictability: Sudden interventions make market participants wary and can disrupt natural price discovery in the forex market.
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- Unresolved Structural Deficit: FERR may not address underlying pressures such as the Current Account Deficit (CAD)
- China's Application (To Weaken Currency): In March 2026
- By imposing a 20% FERR, the RBI has made it financially burdensome to bet against the rupee, choking the speculative demand for dollars
- The effect of devaluation of a currency is that it necessarily improves the competitiveness of the domestic exports in the foreign markets
- increases the foreign value of domestic currency
With reference to Foreign Exchange Risk Reserve, consider the following statements:
- The SIDBI's strategic deployment of the FERR is being widely analyzed by economists as a reversal of the "China playbook" on currency management
- The Mechanism: In October 2026, the RBI introduced a 20% FERR on specified rupee-linked forex derivative contracts involving the purchase of foreign
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.
Economy
Indian Rupee: From Overvaluation to Undervaluation
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Sanjay Malhotra stated that the Indian rupee is "undervalued" in both nominal.
- Definition: NEER is a weighted average index measuring the nominal (face-value) strength of the Indian rupee against a basket of currencies of
- The Basket: The RBI publishes NEER indices using two trade-weighted currency baskets: 6-Currency Basket: Comprises the USD
- 40-Currency Basket: Includes 40 currencies accounting for nearly 88% of India's annual merchandise trade
- The base year is 2015–16, with an index value fixed at 100.
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- Definition: REER is the inflation-adjusted version of the NEER
- Significance: Economists rely on REER because it is a more reliable indicator of a country's actual global trade competitiveness
- A REER value below 100 indicates the currency is undervalued, which theoretically improves export competitiveness.
- Furthermore, it is less effective in capturing the dynamics of India's services-led export economy, as it is traditionally weighted toward
- Note: Exchange rate is the price of one currency in terms of another and influences trade
- Rupee Shifted from Overvaluation to Undervaluation: The Indian rupee has undergone a significant correction in its external valuation
What is the Real Effective Exchange Rate (REER)?
Which of the following statements about Indian Rupee: From Overvaluation to Undervaluation 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
RBI Eases Rupee NDF Curbs
Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) partially rolled back earlier restrictions on rupee-linked non-deliverable forward (NDF) transactions after improved market stability and reduced arbitrage risks.
- Partial Relaxation: Banks are now permitted to undertake limited related-party transactions such as cancellation and rollover of existing contracts
- A Non-Deliverable Forward is a cash-settled derivative contract used to hedge or speculate on currencies where physical delivery is restricted.
- NDF markets can create arbitrage opportunities between onshore and offshore foreign-exchange markets.
With reference to RBI Eases Rupee NDF Curbs, consider the following statements:
- Partial Relaxation: Banks are now permitted to undertake limited related-party transactions such as cancellation and rollover of existing contracts
- A Non-Deliverable Forward is a cash-settled derivative expand used to hedge or speculate on currencies where physical delivery is restricted
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.
Indian Polity MCQ Quiz · भारतीय राजव्यवस्था 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.
