Daily Current Affairs — 30 September 2026
Daily Current Affairs · 30 September 2026
10 fully-analysed topics · 30 bilingual MCQs · 3 embedded videos · built for UPSC Prelims & Mains
🎯 30 MCQs
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Indian History MCQ Quiz · भारतीय इतिहास प्रश्नोत्तरी
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Environment
28th Session of the FAO Committee on Forestry (COFO 28)
India highlighted its significant achievements in sustainable forest management.
- Committee on Forestry (COFO): COFO is the highest-level global intergovernmental statutory body on forestry within the FAO structure
- It plays a crucial role in shaping agendas for the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030) and the proposed UN Decade for Afforestation
- The COFO 28 session focused on the theme of "Forests for food
- Forest and Tree Cover: India's total forest and tree cover has reached 82.74 million hectares
Show 6 more facts
- Global Rankings: According to the FAO's Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) 2025
- The Bonn Challenge: India committed to restoring 26 million hectares of degraded and deforested land by 2030
- India's Nationally Determined Contribution (2031-2035) upgraded its target to achieve a cumulative sink of 3.5 to 4.0 billion tonnes by 2035
- Aravalli Green Wall Project: Identified approximately 6.45 million hectares of degraded arid land across Gujarat
- MISHTI: The Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes is actively restoring coastal ecosystems to bolster climate resilience
- Wetland Conservation: India successfully expanded its domestic network of internationally recognized Ramsar Sites to 101 designated wetlands.
Which of the following statements about 28th Session of the FAO Committee on Forestry (COFO 28) 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
World Food Day and 80th Anniversary of FAO
On the occasion of World Food Day and Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) 80th anniversary.
- World Food Day, marks the founding of the UN's FAO on 16th October 1945
- Headquartered in Rome, FAO has 194 countries and the EU as members and aims to achieve food security for all.
- FAO's flagship publications include The State of Food and Agriculture, and The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World.
- India and FAO: India has been a FAO member since 1945, demonstrating successful international collaboration to reduce hunger
Show 1 more facts
- FAO's Country Programming Framework (CPF) 2023–2027 aligns with India's UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (2023–2027)
With reference to World Food Day and 80th Anniversary of FAO, consider the following statements:
- World Food Day, marks the founding of the UN's FAO on 16th October 1945
- Headquartered in Rome, WHO has 194 countries and the EU as members and aims to achieve food security for all
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
UN World Restoration Flagships
The United Nations has recognized seven initiatives from regions spanning Africa, and Latin America, the Mediterranean, and Southeast Asia as World Restoration Flagships.
- These initiatives, aimed at reviving ecosystems on the brink of degradation, hold promise for environmental conservation
- The combined efforts of these initiatives are projected to restore approximately 40 million hectares of land
- It consists of a novel approach said to have protected and restored natural habitats and vulnerable ecosystems.
- Around 2 million hectares of forests have been restored since 2017; aims for over 8 million by 2030.
Show 6 more facts
- Approved by Pakistan parliament post-2022 climate change-induced floods
- Aims to restore 25 million hectares of the Indus river basin by 2030.
- It is led by the non-profit Andean Ecosystems Association (ECOAN) and aims to protect and restore one million hectares of Andean forests
- It is a science-driven programme co-led by local communities. It focuses on the restoration of natural balance in the ecosystem.
- Since its launch in 2015, efforts have led to 500 hectares of restored mangroves, according to the UN statement.
- Targets restoration of 10,000 hectares of mangroves by 2030.
Which of the following statements about UN World Restoration Flagships 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.
Show 6 more facts
- 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.
With reference to India’s Nationally Determined Contribution (2031-2035), consider the following statements:
- International Mandates: As a Paris Agreement signatory, India was required to issue an updated NDC by 2027
- NDC 3.0 targets were shaped by the outcomes of the 2021 Global Stocktake (GST)
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
International Day for Conservation of Mangrove Ecosystem
The International Day for Conservation of Mangrove Ecosystem (26th July) serves as a crucial reminder that these coastal guardians are vanishing 3-5 times faster than global forests.
- UNESCO and IUCN data reveals that global mangrove cover has halved since 1985, with 50% of remaining ecosystems now at risk of collapse
- Observed annually on 26th July, this day aims to raise awareness about the significance of mangrove ecosystems as unique, special
- It was adopted by UNESCO's General Conference in 2015 to highlight the vital ecological and socio-economic roles mangroves play in coastal protection
- It is a mangrove restoration method for areas with poor tidal flow
Show 6 more facts
- Once salinity and water flow are suitable, mangrove seedlings are planted
- About: Mangroves are specialized coastal ecosystems consisting of salt-tolerant (halophytic) trees
- Common mangrove species include Red Mangrove, Grey Mangrove
- West Bengal has the largest mangrove cover in India, followed by Gujarat in second place.
- Carbon Sequestration: Mangroves store around 394 tonnes of carbon per hectare
- Coastal Protection: Mangroves serve as natural buffers against storm surges, tsunamis, and coastal erosion acting as "bio-shields"
Discuss the ecological and economic significance of mangroves in the Indian context.
Which of the following statements about International Day for Conservation of Mangrove Ecosystem 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.
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Environment
Glaw Lake Becomes India’s 101st Ramsar Site
Glaw Lake in Arunachal Pradesh has been designated as India's 101st Ramsar Site, and the state's first wetland of international importance, taking India's Ramsar network from 26 sites in 2014 to 101 in 2026.
- Location: It is a pristine freshwater lake situated within the Kamlang Tiger Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary in the Eastern Himalayas.
- Physical Features: The lake is fed by perennial mountain streams and surrounded by dense natural vegetation.
- Biodiversity: More than 150 tree species and 49 orchid species have been recorded within the wetland and its catchment area
- Significance: Its designation will support biodiversity protection
Show 4 more facts
- About: The Ramsar Convention, officially known as the Convention on Wetlands, is an intergovernmental treaty adopted at Ramsar, Iran, in 1971
- India: The Convention entered into force for India on 1st February 1982
- Montreux Record: The Montreux Record is a register of Ramsar Sites where changes in ecological character have occurred
- Designation Criteria: A wetland may be designated as a Ramsar Site if it meets at least one of nine criteria relating to ecology
Glaw Lake in Arunachal Pradesh has been designated as India's 101st Ramsar Site, and the state's first wetland of international importance, taking India's Ramsar network from 26 sites in 2014 to 101 in 2026.
Which of the following statements about Glaw Lake Becomes India’s 101st Ramsar Site 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
Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam Campaign
The Ministry of Defence will undertake a massive 15 lakh trees plantation drive across the country on the occasion of 78th Independence Day ceremony on 15th August 2024.
- The plantation drive is part of the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign
- The Prime Minister launched the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign on World Environment Day 2024, urging all to plant a tree as a tribute to mothers.
Which of the following statements about Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam Campaign 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
207th Birth Anniversary of Pandit Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
On 26th September 2026, India observed the 207th birth anniversary of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, the eminent social reformer, philosopher.
- Institutional Leadership: He began his career as head pandit at Fort William College and later became the Principal of Sanskrit College in 1851
- Educational Modernization: Rejecting elitist exclusivity
- His primer 'Barnaparichay' remains a foundational text for learning the Bengali alphabet.
Which of the following statements about 207th Birth Anniversary of Pandit Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar 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
Reforms in the Sati System
Recently, 8 persons were acquitted in connection with glorifying the act of Sati by constructing temples in her name.
- The Sati was committed on 4th September 1987 in Rajasthan in the Roop Kanwar case
- Attempt to Commit Sati: Section 3 of the Act states that anyone who attempts to commit sati
- Abetment of Sati: Section 4 of the Act states that anyone who abets sati, directly or indirectly, will face life imprisonment and a fine. Eg
- Glorification of Sati: Section 5 of the Act states that glorifying sati is punishable by one to seven years of imprisonment
Show 6 more facts
- About Sati: Sati refers to the practice of a widow immolating herself on the cremation pyre of her husband
- The first epigraphical evidence of Sati has been found from the Eran Pillar Inscription of Bhanugupta, Madhya Pradesh in Eran in 510 AD.
- Mughal Empire: In 1582, emperor Akbar ordered his officials throughout the empire to stop the immolation of a woman if they saw
- British Governor-General William Bentinck declared the practice of sati illegal and punishable by criminal courts under the Bengal Sati Regulation
- Female Infanticide: The Bengal regulations of 1795 and 1804 made infanticide illegal, equating it with murder
- Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1929 (Sarda Act, 1929) pushed up the marriage age to 18 and 14 for boys and girls, respectively.
Which of the following statements about Reforms in the Sati System 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
Jyotiba Phule
The birth anniversary of Jyotiba Phule was observed on 11th April, the great social reformer, philosopher and writer.
- About: He was born on 11th April, 1827, and emerged as a pioneering social reformer who challenged Brahmanical orthodoxy, fought
- Key Contributions: Educational Reforms: Phule and his wife Savitribai opened India's first girls' school in 1848
- Anti-Caste Movement: Phule founded Satyashodhak Samaj (1873) to fight caste hierarchy and, in Gulamgiri, compared caste oppression to American slavery
With reference to Jyotiba Phule, consider the following statements:
- About: He was born on 11th April, 1827, and emerged as a pioneering social reformer who challenged Brahmanical orthodoxy, fought
- Key Contributions: Educational Reforms: Phule and his wife Savitribai opened India's first girls' school in 3696
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 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.
