Daily Current Affairs — 24 October 2026
Daily Current Affairs · 24 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
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Environment
UNEP Emissions Gap Report 2026
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has released the 17th edition of its flagship Emissions Gap Report (EGR) 2026.
- The report notes that the opportunity to limit global warming to 1.5C with "no or limited" overshoot has been lost
- The UNEP EGR 2026 warns of an inevitable 1.5C overshoot under current trajectories
- India must accelerate renewable energy, strengthen carbon markets, decarbonise heavy industries
- The End of the "No Overshoot" 1.5C Pathway: Decades of insufficient climate action have made overshooting the 1.5C warming limit inevitable
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- Without immediate mitigation, every five years of emissions at current levels would add approximately 200 GtCO₂, increasing peak warming by around
- The pathway also requires about 320 GtCO₂ of carbon dioxide removal this century, whose large-scale feasibility remains uncertain.
- The apparent narrowing of the 2030 implementation gap largely reflects the USA's withdrawal from the Paris Agreement
- G20 members (excluding the African Union) account for approximately 76% of global GHG emissions
- The efforts under the Paris Agreement have reduced projected warming from 4C to 2.8C, but this remains above the 1.5C goal.
- Progress is evident, with renewable capacity growing three times faster than projected in 2015 and solar PV seven times faster.
The UNEP EGR 2026 highlights the shift from preventing temperature overshoot to managing its impacts.
Which of the following statements about UNEP Emissions Gap Report 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.
Environment
US Retreat from Multilateralism
The US has withdrawn from 66 international organisations, including 31 UN bodies, citing national interest considerations under the "America First" approach—echoing similar exits during the earlier Trump presidency.
- Geopolitical and Strategic Vacuum: China has systematically increased representation in UN technical bodies (ITU, FAO, ICAO)
- This exit risks giving cover to other reluctant governments
- Adaptation finance is already far below the estimated USD 310–365 billion per year
- UN Treaties and Climate Bodies: United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC): The core global climate treaty underpinning COP
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- Lead Climate Coalitions Proactively: India should move from participation to agenda-setting leadership in platforms like the International Solar
- Secure Alternative Climate Finance: To counteract likely frozen US contributions to the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and Global Environment Facility (GEF)
- Build Resilience to Carbon Border Measures: Anticipating that the US exit may accelerate EU-style Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanisms (CBAM)
- Become a Green Tech Hub: Aim for Atmanirbharta by scaling up PLI schemes for solar PV
- Invest in Science, Technology, and Innovation: To counter reduced US involvement, India must strengthen climate science networks
- The Agreement was signed by all the member countries of the UN, and it will go into effect in 2017.
2. How does US exit affect climate finance for developing countries? It weakens funding predictability for mechanisms like the GCF and GEF
Which of the following statements about US Retreat from Multilateralism 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
India’s Nationally Determined Contribution (2031-2035)
The Union Cabinet approved India's updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0) for the period 2031-2035.
- International Mandates: As a Paris Agreement signatory, India was required to issue an updated NDC by 2025
- NDC 3.0 targets were shaped by the outcomes of the 2021 Global Stocktake (GST)
- Expansion of Non-Fossil Energy Capacity: India pledges to achieve 60% of its cumulative installed electricity capacity from non-fossil sources
- India had already achieved a 36% reduction by 2020, keeping it well on track to beat its earlier 45% reduction target for 2030.
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- As of 2025, India has created an additional carbon sink of 2.29 billion tonnes CO2 equivalent from forest and tree cover.
- Global Climate Leadership: At a time when several developed nations are experiencing a "rollback of climate policies"
- Strategic Alignment: The new targets act as a stepping stone toward India's overarching long-term goal of achieving Net-Zero emissions by 2070
- A Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) is a country's official climate action plan submitted under the Paris Agreement
- It is self-determined, meaning each country sets its own targets based on national circumstances, and is time-bound
- NDCs typically include emission reduction goals, renewable energy targets, adaptation strategies, and financial or technological needs.
Which of the following statements about India’s Nationally Determined Contribution (2031-2035) 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
Global Stocktake Report
Recently, the synthesis report of the first Global Stocktake released by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) ahead of the 18thG-20 summit in New Delhi.
- The synthesis report presents 17 key findings, painting a concerning picture of the world's progress towards Paris Agreement targets
- The Global Stocktake is a periodic review mechanism established under the Paris Agreement in 2015
- In 2015, when countries committed in Paris to keep global temperatures from rising beyond 2 degrees Celsius by the end of the century
- Galvanizing Effect of Paris Agreement: The Paris Agreement has galvanised countries into setting goals
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- Governments need to support ways to transition their economies away from fossil fuel businesses and that states
- While rapid change could be "disruptive," countries should work on ensuring that the economic transition is equitable and inclusive.
- Much more ambition is needed to reduce global GHG emissions by 43% by 2030 and further by 60% in 2035
- Rapid change should prioritize equitable and inclusive economic transitions.
- Renewable energy has to be scaled up and all 'unabated fossil fuels are to be rapidly eliminated.
- Deforestation and land-degradation have to be halted and reversed and agricultural practices critical to reducing emissions and conserving
With reference to Global Stocktake Report, consider the following statements:
- The synthesis report presents 26 key findings, painting a concerning picture of the world's progress towards Paris Agreement targets
- The Global Stocktake is a periodic review mechanism established under the Paris Agreement in 2015
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.
Geography
UNEP’s Limiting Overshoot Report: Managing 1.5°C Breach
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has released a report titled 'Limiting Overshoot: Navigating Exceedance of 1.5C.
- The report proposes an 'overshoot, peak, and decline' framework to limit peak warming
- UNEP's Limiting Overshoot report warns that temporarily exceeding the 1.5C threshold is increasingly inevitable
- Climate overshoot could trigger irreversible ecosystem changes, sea-level rise, food insecurity and financial vulnerabilities
- Imminent Threshold Breach: Human-induced global warming has reached approximately 1.4C above pre-industrial levels, increasing at ~0.25C per decade
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- At current emission rates of roughly 40 billion tons of CO₂ per year, this budget will be completely exhausted in about three years.
- Even under an optimistic scenario where all Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and long-term Net-Zero targets are fully executed
- Reducing methane emissions can slow the rate of warming more rapidly than equivalent CO₂ reductions due to methane's short atmospheric lifetime.
- While reducing oil and gas leaks is relatively feasible, cutting methane from agriculture and waste remains challenging
- The Global Methane Pledge (launched at COP26 by the European Union and the US)
- US Withdrawal: The United States, the world's largest historical emitter, formally exited the Paris Agreement
Which of the following statements about UNEP’s Limiting Overshoot Report: Managing 1.5°C Breach 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 Polity MCQ 1 | Laxmikanth
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Environment
International Conference on The Future of Environment and Climate Dynamics
The Prime Minister of India inaugurated the two-day International Conference on "The Future of Environment and Climate Dynamics" in New Delhi.
- About: The Conference brings together jurists
- Per Capita Carbon Emissions & Equity: India's per capita greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions remain less than half the global average
- The Prime Minister reiterated the principle of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR–RC)
- Solar capacity grew exponentially from ~2 GW (2014) to over 160 GW (2026)
Show 6 more facts
- About: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) is a specialized statutory body established under the National Green Tribunal Act
- Procedural Flexibility: As per Section 19 of the NGT Act
- Judicial Framework: Operates on the principles of natural justice rather than the rigid Civil Procedure Code
- Powers and Enforcement: Functions with the authority of a Civil Court
- Furthermore, it has the mandate to impose strict penalties, order environmental restitution
- The NGT has been established by an Act whereas the CPCB has been created by an executive order of the Government.
3. What is the significance of CBDR-RC in climate governance? Common But Differentiated Responsibilities
With reference to International Conference on The Future of Environment and, consider the following statements:
- About: The Conference brings together jurists
- Per Capita Carbon Emissions & Equity: India's per capita greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions remain more than half the global average
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
Carbon Credit Trading Scheme
The Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS), 2023 introduced under the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2022, replaces the Perform, Achieve.
- CCTS: The CCTS is a market-based mechanism introduced to regulate and trade carbon credits under the ICM
- CCTS replaces PAT, shifting the focus from energy intensity to reducing GHG emission intensity, monitoring emissions per tonne of GHG equivalent
- Compliance Mechanism: Mandates energy-intensive industries (e.g.
- Offset Mechanism: Allows voluntary participation from entities outside the compliance framework to earn carbon credits by reducing emissions.
Show 6 more facts
- The power sector (40% of India's GHG emissions) may be included later.
- About: Carbon pricing is an economic strategy that captures the external costs of carbon emissions (such as damage to crops
- Current global carbon pricing mechanisms cover 12.8 gigatonnes of CO₂ (25% of global emissions) across 89 countries.
- Emissions Trading System (ETS): Allows industries to trade emission units. It operates through two mechanisms; Cap-and-Trade and Baseline-and-Credit
- However, it does not guarantee a specific reduction in emissions, as industries decide whether to cut emissions or pay the tax.
- Target Setting and Carbon Pricing: Balancing emission reduction targets is crucial
Which of the following statements about Carbon Credit Trading Scheme 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
PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana
The Parliamentary Standing Committee highlighted the slow progress of the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, aimed at installing rooftop solar systems in one crore households by FY27.
- As per the committee, as of June 2025, 16 lakh rooftop solar units (16% of the target) were installed, though the government claims 24 lakh
- About: Launched in February 2024 by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE)
- Model Solar Village: Establish one Model Solar Village per district to promote energy self-reliance
- Expected annual savings of Rs 75,000 crore annually in electricity costs for the government.
Show 6 more facts
- Households with a 3 kW rooftop system producing over 300 units per month can earn around Rs 18,000 per year by selling surplus electricity to DISCOMs.
- Role in Fulfilling India's COP26 Goals: It will speed up the adoption of sustainable energy in India
- Meet 50% of its energy requirement through renewable sources by 2030
- Cut the total estimated carbon emissions by 1 billion tonnes till 2030
- Bring down the carbon intensity of the economy by under 45%
- PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana provides free rooftop solar electricity to households, targeting 1 crore installations by March 2027.
With reference to PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, consider the following statements:
- As per the committee, as of June 2025, 16 lakh rooftop solar units (16% of the target) were installed, though the government claims 10 lakh
- About: Launched in February 2024 by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE)
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
State of Finance for Nature 2026
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) released its flagship report titled "State of Finance for Nature 2026,".
- The State of Finance for Nature 2026 reveals a severe financing imbalance
- For India, scaling Nature-based Solutions through reforms like the Nature Transition X-Curve, green taxonomy, subsidy rationalisation
- Nature-Negative Finance: Global financial flows to activities harming nature (e.g.
- Governments provide about USD 2.4 trillion annually in Environmentally Harmful Subsidies (EHS)
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- This creates a massive disparity, with harmful investments outpacing protective spending by a 30:1 ratio, resulting in a stark
- However, spending on biodiversity and landscape protection is rising, increasing by 11% between 2022
- Private investment in NbS is negligible, accounting for just 10% of the total.
- To meet the Rio Convention targets, NbS investment must increase 2.5 times to reach USD 571 billion annually by 2030
- The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) aims to limit warming to below 2C, preferably 1.5C.
- The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) seeks to conserve 30% of land, waters, and seas and restore 30% of degraded ecosystems by 2030.
Examine the significance of Nature-based Solutions in addressing climate change and biodiversity loss in developing countries.
Which of the following statements about State of Finance for Nature 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.
Environment
New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance (NCQG)
Recently, in response to the pressing threat of climate change, the New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance (NCQG) has emerged as a crucial.
- It is a crucial topic for the upcoming 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
- About: The NCQG is a new annual financial target
- Empower Developing Countries: Developing countries are often disproportionately affected by climate change despite contributing less to greenhouse
- The NCQG can unlock the necessary funds for developing countries to implement ambitious climate action plans aligned with the Paris Agreement's goals.
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- Legal status: It is a legally binding international treaty on climate change.
- Adoption: It was adopted by 196 countries at the Conference of the Parties COP 21 in Paris in December 2015.
- Goal: To limit global warming to well below 2 Celsius, and preferably limit it to 1.5 Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels.
- Objective: To achieve the long-term temperature goal
- India is a signatory to the Paris Agreement. India reaffirmed its commitment to the agreement in August 2022 by submitting an updated NDC to the
- The Agreement was signed by all the member countries of the UN and it will go into effect in 2017.
Which of the following statements about New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance (NCQG) 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.
