Online Current Affairs Test - Current Affairs Test - Random (Last 6 months)

Deepak Gupta assumed charge as the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of GAIL (India) Limited on March 1, 2026, succeeding Sandeep Kumar Gupta, who retired on February 28, 2026. His tenure is scheduled to continue until February 28, 2029. Prior to this role, he served as Director (Projects) at GAIL from February 2022. A mechanical engineer from Delhi College of Engineering, he has extensive experience in natural gas transmission, LNG infrastructure, and large-scale energy projects. Before joining GAIL, he worked for over three decades at Engineers India Limited. His leadership is expected to support the expansion of India’s natural gas infrastructure and strengthen the country’s long-term energy strategy.

Saleem Ahmad has taken charge as the Chairman and Managing Director of Rail Vikas Nigam Limited, a key public sector enterprise under the Ministry of Railways. With over 30 years of experience in infrastructure development, he brings extensive expertise in construction, metro projects, and large-scale redevelopment works. Prior to this role, he served as Director (Projects) at NBCC (India) and held senior positions at the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and Mumbai Port Trust. His appointment comes at a crucial time as India accelerates railway modernization, capacity enhancement, and connectivity expansion across the country.

The second edition of the biannual Naval Commanders’ Conference 2025 concluded in New Delhi after a three-day session that focused on strategic discussions and technological advancements within the Indian Navy. During the conference, a new digital platform named ‘NIPUN’ (Naval Intellectual Portal for Unified Knowledge) was launched to serve as an online hub for naval research and intellectual contributions. Additionally, five key naval publications were released, underscoring the Navy’s commitment to knowledge sharing, modernization, and enhancing operational readiness across India’s maritime domain.

India’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenue grew by 4.6% year-on-year in October 2025, reaching ₹1.96 lakh crore — the highest in five months but marking the slowest growth in over four years. Despite the moderation, revenues remained above ₹1.8 lakh crore for the tenth straight month, reflecting consistent economic activity and strong tax compliance. The slowdown was partly due to the government’s restructuring of GST slabs, which simplified the tax system by reducing higher-rate categories. This reform is expected to stimulate consumption and investment over time, helping sustain fiscal stability and support India’s long-term economic growth trajectory.

International Customs Day is celebrated every year on January 26 to recognize the crucial role of customs authorities in facilitating global trade, ensuring border security, and supporting economic growth. The date commemorates the first session of the Customs Cooperation Council (now World Customs Organization) held on 26 January 1953 in Brussels. The day raises awareness about customs procedures, promotes cooperation among nations, and honours customs officials for maintaining lawful trade and secure supply chains. Activities include seminars, workshops, and recognition programs to highlight efficiency, security, and international collaboration in customs administration.

World Tsunami Awareness Day is observed every year on November 5, as designated by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015. The date was inspired by the Japanese legend of Inamura-no-hi (“The Burning of the Rice Sheaves”), where a farmer saved villagers by warning them of an incoming tsunami. The 2025 theme, “Be Tsunami Ready: Invest in Tsunami Preparedness,” stresses the importance of early-warning systems, community training, and resilient infrastructure. With more than 700 million people living in tsunami-prone areas worldwide, the observance reinforces the urgent need for awareness, preparedness, and global cooperation to reduce disaster risks.

The Indian AI Research Organization is set to be established at GIFT City in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, marking a significant step in strengthening India’s artificial intelligence ecosystem. Gandhinagar was chosen due to GIFT City’s status as a premier global financial and technology hub with world-class digital and physical infrastructure. The location offers proximity to fintech, pharmaceutical companies, startups, and innovation-driven institutions. Establishing IAIRO in Gandhinagar supports collaboration between government, industry, and academia under a public–private partnership model, while aligning with national initiatives like the India AI Mission and Gujarat’s AI Action Plan.

The AYUSH Expo was organised in New Delhi as a major component of the 2nd WHO Global Conference on Traditional Medicine. Hosted at Bharat Mandapam between December 17 and 19, 2024, the event was jointly organised by the Ministry of AYUSH and the World Health Organization. The expo highlighted India’s rich heritage of traditional medicine systems, including Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa, and Homeopathy. It also featured specialised pavilions and zones such as medicinal plants, spices, metallotherapeutics, wellness practices, and the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library, reinforcing India’s leadership in traditional healthcare knowledge.

Grandmaster P Iniyan from Tamil Nadu emerged as the champion of the 62nd National Chess Championship held in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh. He remained unbeaten across 11 rounds, securing 7 victories and 4 draws. Although he finished with the same score as 15-year-old International Master H. Goutham Krishna from Kerala, Iniyan claimed the title based on a superior Buchholz score. His consistent performance and strategic brilliance throughout the tournament earned him the prestigious national title along with a prize of ₹6 lakh, further strengthening his reputation as one of India’s top chess players.

Koneru Humpy delivered an outstanding performance at the World Rapid Championship by finishing joint-first with a score of 8.5 out of 11 points. Despite remaining undefeated throughout the tournament, she had to settle for the bronze medal due to inferior tiebreaks after a draw in the final round denied her a chance at gold. The championship title was eventually claimed by Aleksandra Goryachkina following a playoff win against China’s Zhu Jiner. Koneru Humpy’s consistent and resilient play once again highlighted her status as one of India’s most accomplished and reliable chess grandmasters on the global stage.

Pakistan emerged as the champions of the U19 Asia Cup 2025 after registering a dominant 191-run victory over India U19 in the final held in Dubai. This emphatic win marked Pakistan’s second U19 Asia Cup title and their first triumph in the tournament since 2012. Batting first, Pakistan posted a massive total of 347 runs for the loss of eight wickets in 50 overs, setting an imposing target. Opener Sameer Minhas played a starring role with a brilliant knock of 172 runs off just 113 balls, laying the foundation for Pakistan’s historic victory.

Magnus Carlsen secured the 2026 FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship title after defeating Fabiano Caruana 2.5–1.5 in the final held in Weissenhaus. A draw in the fourth game was sufficient for him to clinch the championship. This victory marked his 21st world title across various chess formats and his first official FIDE-recognised title in the Freestyle (Chess960) category. The tournament carried historic significance as it was the first official FIDE-recognised Freestyle Chess World Championship, further cementing Carlsen’s legacy as one of the greatest chess players in history.

Jannik Sinner, the 24-year-old Italian tennis player, clinched his maiden Rolex Paris Masters title by defeating Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-4, 7-6(4) in the final. This victory marked his fifth ATP Masters 1000 crown and his return to the World No. 1 position in the PIF ATP Rankings. Sinner’s achievement also extended his impressive streak to 26 consecutive indoor match wins. Notably, he became the first player since Carlos Alcaraz in 2023 to win a Masters title without dropping a single set, underscoring his consistency and dominance on indoor courts.

Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah visited Paradip and Bhubaneswar on 6 March 2026 to dedicate the IFFCO Sulphuric Acid Plant (SAP-III) and launch several major cooperative sector initiatives. The programmes were organised in the state of Odisha and focused on strengthening cooperative institutions, promoting rural development, and boosting the agricultural and dairy sectors. The visit included the release of the State Cooperative Policy, launch of digital platforms, inauguration of Common Service Centres operated by PACS and LAMPS, and foundation stones for projects worth more than ₹3,275 crore. These initiatives aim to enhance rural prosperity, improve governance in cooperatives, and support farmers and producers through modern infrastructure and digital services.

Uttarakhand celebrates its Foundation Day every year on November 9, commemorating its creation as India’s 27th state in the year 2000, after being carved out of Uttar Pradesh. Originally named Uttaranchal, it was officially renamed Uttarakhand in 2007 to reflect its cultural and historical identity. In 2025, the state observes its Silver Jubilee (25 years) of formation with grand celebrations highlighting its progress in tourism, education, infrastructure, and sustainability. Known as Devbhoomi, or the Land of the Gods, Uttarakhand holds immense spiritual and ecological significance in India’s landscape.

Odisha earned significant international recognition when its Puri and Sunapur beaches once again secured the prestigious Blue Flag certification for 2025–26. This achievement reflects the state’s commitment to maintaining high environmental standards, clean coastlines, and sustainable tourism practices. Both beaches have consistently demonstrated excellence through strict waste-management systems, water-quality monitoring, eco-education initiatives, and community participation. Puri Golden Beach has earned this certification multiple times, while Sunapur Beach continues to strengthen its reputation for conservation-oriented development. These recognitions reinforce Odisha’s growing leadership in eco-friendly tourism and showcase India’s broader efforts to promote sustainable coastal destinations.

The ‘HANUMAN’ project (Healing and Nurturing Units for Monitoring, Aid and Nursing of Wildlife) was launched in Andhra Pradesh on March 3, 2026, by Deputy Chief Minister and Forest and Environment Minister Pawan Kalyan. The initiative aims to address the growing issue of human–wildlife conflict caused by expanding human settlements near forest areas and increased wildlife movement into rural regions. As part of the rollout, more than 100 specially equipped vehicles, including rapid response units and wildlife ambulances, were deployed. The project focuses on early warning systems, real-time monitoring, quick rescue operations, and rehabilitation efforts to reduce casualties, crop damage, and retaliatory harm to wildlife.

National Physical Laboratory plays a crucial role in strengthening India’s quality and measurement ecosystem through the inauguration of two apex calibration facilities. These include the Solar Cell Calibration Facility, which enables highly accurate photovoltaic testing and supports solar manufacturing and exports, and the Environmental Standard Laboratory, which allows domestic calibration of air-quality monitoring instruments. As India’s premier measurement standards institution under CSIR, the laboratory ensures precision, reliability, and global comparability of measurements. Such initiatives reduce dependence on foreign calibration services, improve industrial competitiveness, and enhance environmental monitoring capabilities across the country.

Chandrayaan-4, India’s first lunar sample-return mission, is scheduled for launch in 2028 as part of ISRO’s expanded roadmap for deep space exploration. The mission is expected to collect and bring back lunar soil and rock samples, placing India among the few nations capable of executing such a technically advanced operation. The timeline aligns with ISRO’s broader goals, which include tripling spacecraft production, increasing launch frequency, advancing human spaceflight through the Gaganyaan program, and establishing the initial module of an Indian Space Station by 2028. These efforts collectively strengthen India’s scientific capabilities and elevate its position in the global space sector.

IBM has partnered with the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) to establish a state-of-the-art Artificial Intelligence (AI) lab at AICTE headquarters. The initiative focuses on enhancing AI and data science skills among students and faculty through hands-on training, hackathons, and certified programs. It also includes a Master-Trainer Program to enable large-scale skill dissemination across India’s technical institutions. The collaboration aligns with India’s National Education Policy 2020 and National AI Strategy, as well as IBM’s global mission to promote inclusive technology education and build a future-ready digital workforce for the evolving tech ecosystem.