Daily Current Affairs (DCA) 27 October, 2026

Context of the News

India now has 103 Ramsar Sites, covering over 13.87 lakh hectares. The latest additions are Sukhna Wetland in Chandigarh and Sauj Jheel in Uttar Pradesh.

What Is a Ramsar Site?

• A wetland designated as a “Wetland of International Importance”
• Under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
• An intergovernmental treaty signed at Ramsar, Iran, in 1971

What Counts as a Wetland?

A wide definition:

• Fens, marshes, peatlands or bodies of water
• Natural or artificial
• Permanent or temporary
• Fresh, brackish or salt
• Including marine areas no deeper than six metres at low tide

Recently Added Site

Important Facts for Exams

• India has 103 Ramsar Sites, covering over 13.87 lakh hectares, across 28 States and UTs
• 100th site: Surha Tal / Jai Prakash Narayan Bird Sanctuary, Ballia, UP, June 2026
• India has the third-highest number of Ramsar Sites globally, after the UK and Mexico, and the most in Asia
• The Convention was signed in 1971 and came into force in 1975. It is the oldest modern global environmental treaty
• India joined in 1982; its first sites were Chilika Lake (Odisha) and Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan)
• World Wetlands Day: 2 February
• The Montreux Record lists sites facing ecological change. India has two on it — Keoladeo and Loktak Lake

Context of the News

Tata Steel introduced hydroseeding at its West Bokaro Division in Ramgarh district, Jharkhand. It covers over 50 acres of mined land, nurseries and overburden dumps. This is the first such effort in the state.

What Is Hydroseeding?

• A mechanised planting method
• A liquid mixture (slurry) is sprayed over bare ground using high-pressure equipment

What goes into the slurry?

• Seeds
• Fibrous mulch
• Fertiliser
• Binders, called tackifiers
• Soil-conditioning agents
• Water

What Is the Aim?

• Quickly establish green cover on damaged land
• Strengthen slope stability
• Prevent topsoil erosion by wind and water
• Reclaim degraded overburden dumps
• Without the labour of manual planting

Context of the News

The camel population in Gujarat’s Kutch district has fallen sharply. From a peak of over 17,600 in 1992, numbers are now critically low. Attendance at the traditional Bhed Mata Camel Fair has dropped from thousands to under 200 animals.

What Are They?

• Indigenous dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius)
• Native to the salt marshes, coastal mangroves and thorn-forest scrublands of Kutch
• Reared by pastoral communities — Rabaris, Maldharis and Jaths

What Are the Two Breeds?

Important Facts for Exams

• They feed on Avicennia marina mangrove
• Reared by the Rabari, Maldhari and Jath communities
• Kharai was recognised as a distinct breed by NBAGR in 2015
• India has nine registered camel breeds, including Bikaneri, Jaisalmeri, Mewari, Marwari, Kachchhi and Kharai
• India’s camel population has fallen sharply across censuses — it is now around 2.5 lakh
• Rajasthan declared the camel its state animal in 2014
• 2024 was the UN International Year of Camelids

• Study: Scientists from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research–Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT), Palampur, and the Good Food Institute India studied protein bioavailability in plant-based meat and traditional chicken products.
• Key Findings: Plant-based seekh kebabs recorded protein bioavailability of 80.8% and 86.1%, compared with 38.8% for chicken. Plant-based nuggets scored 61.2% against 43.4%, while two plant-based burger patties scored approximately 57% and 58%, compared with 21.2% for chicken.
• Research Method: The researchers used an in vitro method, which studies biological processes outside a living organism under controlled laboratory conditions.

Context of the News

India and Sri Lanka launched the SAMHiTA Project at the Gangaramaya Temple, Colombo. It will digitise 100 ancient manuscripts and strengthen cultural cooperation between the two countries.

What Is SAMHiTA?

• Full form: South Asian Manuscript Histories and Textual Archive
• An India-supported heritage initiative
• It digitises and preserves ancient South Asian manuscripts

What Is the Aim?

• Safeguard historical manuscripts
• Preserve religious and intellectual traditions
• Improve digital access for future generations

Important Facts for Exams

• SAMHiTA — South Asian Manuscript Histories and Textual Archive
• Launched at Gangaramaya Temple, Colombo, Sri Lanka’s first partner institution; MoU signed July 2026
• 100 manuscripts to be digitised by November 2026
• Implemented by the India International Centre, New Delhi, with Indian government grant support
• Gangaramaya Temple is one of Colombo’s most important Buddhist temples
• India’s own manuscript body is the National Mission for Manuscripts, set up in 2003 under the Ministry of Culture. India holds an estimated 10 million manuscripts — the largest collection in the world
• Gyan Bharatam Mission was announced in Budget 2025-26 to survey and digitise over 1 crore manuscripts
• India-Sri Lanka Buddhist links: the Sanchi relics have been taken to Sri Lanka for exposition; India funded restoration of the Thiruketheeswaram Temple and the Jaffna Cultural Centre
• Emperor Ashoka’s son Mahinda and daughter Sanghamitta are credited with bringing Buddhism to Sri Lanka
• Other India-Sri Lanka cooperation: the SLINEX naval exercise, Mitra Shakti army exercise, the UPI link, and India’s support during Sri Lanka’s 2022 economic crisis

Context of the News

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurated the Integrated Atmospheric Chemistry and Aerosol Toxicity Analysis Laboratory (AATAL) at the IITM branch in New Delhi. It is described as the first of its kind in the world.

What Does It Do?

It studies air pollution at a deeper level than normal monitoring:

• Identifies the molecular composition of pollutants
• Traces how pollutants change chemically in the air
• Finds the exact sources in real time
• Assesses the health risks they carry

Who Built It?

• Developed by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune
• Under the Ministry of Earth Sciences
• Located at the IITM Delhi branch

Important Facts for Exams

• AATAL — Integrated Atmospheric Chemistry and Aerosol Toxicity Analysis Laboratory, at IITM Delhi branch
• Developed by IITM Pune, under the Ministry of Earth Sciences
• Inaugurated by Dr Jitendra Singh
• Links with AIRWISE, giving 400-metre resolution forecasts for 72 hours, plus four-day prediction
• Tracks VOCs, SO₂, NOₓ, ozone, plus PM2.5, ultrafine particles and toxic metals

Context of the News

The President of India gave assent to the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA) Bill, 2026. It had been passed unanimously by the Nagaland Legislative Assembly.

What Does It Create?

• A statutory, autonomous self-governing body — the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority
• For the six eastern districts of Nagaland
• Enacted in consultation with the Ministry of Home Affairs

What Is the Aim?

• Establish decentralised self-governance in Eastern Nagaland
• Address infrastructure gaps in the region
• Meet its social, economic, educational, cultural and linguistic aspirations

Important Facts for Exams

• FNTA Bill, 2026 — passed unanimously by the Nagaland Legislative Assembly; Presidential assent granted
• Covers six districts: Tuensang, Mon, Longleng, Kiphire, Noklak, Shamator
• Main tribes: Konyak, Chang, Phom, Sangtam
• Based on the tripartite MoA of 5 February 2026 between the Centre, Nagaland Government and ENPO
• Funded through a population and area based share of the state budget, plus MHA Special Development Grants
• The Nagaland Assembly retains legislative power over the region
• Article 371A gives Nagaland special status — Parliament cannot legislate on Naga religious or social practices, customary law, land or criminal and civil justice by customary law, unless the Assembly agrees
• Nagaland became a state in 1963, under the 16-Point Agreement

• Event: The 14th edition of India Chem 2026 was held from 22 to 24 October 2026 at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, NESCO, Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• Theme: “Advantage Bharat: An Emerging Global Chemicals Hub.”
• Organisers: The Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, organised the event in partnership with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
• Growth Targets: India aims to develop its chemical industry into a US$300 billion sector by 2030, US$1 trillion by 2040 and approximately US$1.6 trillion by 2047. The event also featured the India Chem Youth Innovation Challenge.

• Participants: The United States and Japan launched Exercise Keen Sword 27, a joint military field-training exercise involving the Japan Self-Defense Forces and the United States Armed Forces.
• Location: The exercise is being conducted across the waters and islands of southwestern Japan.
• Frequency: Keen Sword is a biennial exercise, meaning it is held every two years.
• Objective: It aims to improve combat readiness, tactical coordination and interoperability across land, sea, air and other operational domains.

• Approval: The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, granted Acceptance of Necessity for capital acquisition proposals worth approximately ₹2.12 lakh crore for the three armed services.
• Domestic Industry: Around 82% of the proposed acquisitions will be sourced from Indian industry.
• Army Equipment: The proposals include high-mobility vehicles, self-propelled tracked gun systems, light multi-role helicopters, very short-range air defence systems (VSHORADS), surveillance unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and long-range kamikaze drones.
• Importance: Acceptance of Necessity is an initial formal approval in the defence procurement process. It confirms the need for the proposed equipment but does not mean that final purchase contracts have been awarded.

• Released By: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh released the Indian Army’s Land Warfare Doctrine 2026 during the Army Commanders’ Conference in New Delhi.
• Purpose: The doctrine provides a framework to prepare the Indian Army for changing warfare conditions and future conflicts.
• Key Changes: It replaces the December 2018 doctrine and incorporates advanced technologies, drones, artificial intelligence, precision warfare and multi-domain operations.
• Conference: The biannual Army Commanders’ Conference was chaired by General Dhiraj Seth, Chief of the Army Staff, to review operational preparedness, capability development and military modernisation.

• Inauguration: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Chinmaya Amrit Mahotsav Global Sammelan at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
• Dates: The three-day event was held from 23 to 25 October 2026.
• Occasion: It marked the culmination of year-long celebrations commemorating 75 years of the Chinmaya Mission, founded by Swami Chinmayananda.
• Message: The Prime Minister called for social unity, resistance to divisive forces, self-reliance and efforts towards building a developed India by 2047.

• Award: Indian theoretical physicist Ashoke Sen, a professor at the International Centre for Theoretical Sciences in Bengaluru, became the first Indian physicist to receive the Oskar Klein Medal.
• Contribution: He was recognised for his pioneering work in string theory and theoretical physics.
• Established: The medal was instituted in 1988 and is named after Swedish theoretical physicist Oskar Klein.
• Awarding Institutions: The medal is awarded by Stockholm University and the Nobel Committee for Physics of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.

• Election: Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won Brazil’s 2026 presidential runoff election on 25 October 2026, defeating Flávio Bolsonaro.
• Results: Lula received 51.79% of the votes, while Flávio Bolsonaro secured 48.21%.
• Significance: According to the supplied material, Lula became the first president in Brazil’s democratic era to be elected to four terms, although his terms are non-consecutive.
• Oath-Taking: He is scheduled to be sworn in on 5 January 2027, according to the supplied material.

• Event: The fifth Asian Para Games, officially known as Aichi–Nagoya 2026, were held in Japan from 18 to 24 October 2026.
• India’s Performance: India finished fourth with 114 medals: 30 gold, 35 silver and 49 bronze. A total of 168 Indian athletes competed across 11 sporting disciplines.
• Top Countries: China topped the medal table with 435 medals, followed by Japan with 186 and Uzbekistan with 145.
• Next Edition: Doha, Qatar, will host the sixth Asian Para Games in 2030. The event promotes inclusion and sporting opportunities for athletes with disabilities.

• Achievement: Eleven-year-old British chess player of Indian origin Bodhana Sivanandan became the youngest female International Master (IM), at 11 years, seven months and 16 days.
• Venue: She achieved the feat at the European Club Cup in Budva, Montenegro, in October 2026.
• Record: She surpassed the previous record held by Judit Polgar, who achieved the relevant milestone at age 12 in 1988.
• Performance: She earned her third and final IM norm at the European Club Cup and crossed the required live rating threshold of 2,400.

• Announcement: The International Weightlifting Federation announced Ahmedabad, Gujarat, as the host of the 2029 Senior World Weightlifting Championships.
• Significance: It will be the first time India hosts the senior edition of the championship.
• Other Events: India is also scheduled to host the Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad in 2030, while Gandhinagar hosted the Asian Weightlifting Championships in 2026.
• Background: The World Weightlifting Championships were first held in 1891. The first Women’s World Weightlifting Championships took place in 1987.

• Person: Renowned Tamil chef K. Damodaran, popularly known as Chef Damu, passed away in Chennai at the age of 72.
• Award: He received the Padma Shri in 2025 for his contributions to culinary arts.
• Academic Achievement: In 2004, he earned a PhD in Hotel Management and Catering Technology from the University of Madras.
• Guinness World Record: In December 2010, he cooked 617 dishes weighing 190 kilograms in 24 hours, 30 minutes and 12 seconds.

• Person: Indian painter and former Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament Jogen Chowdhury passed away in Kolkata, West Bengal, at the age of 87.
• Career: He worked as an art teacher, designer at the Handloom Board, Keeper of Art at Rashtrapati Bhavan and professor at Kala Bhavana, Visva-Bharati University.
• Political Role: He represented West Bengal in the Rajya Sabha as a member of the Trinamool Congress from 2014 to 2020.
• Awards: His honours included the Kalidas Samman, Banga Bibhushan and Zainul Samman.

• Released By: Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan released the book in New Delhi in October 2026.
• Author: Anil K. Antony, National Secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
• Publisher: Rupa Publications.
• Themes: The book discusses India’s technological development, artificial intelligence, semiconductor independence, defence, space, Digital India, women, youth and India’s international role towards 2047.

• Dates: Observed from 24 to 30 October 2026 to raise awareness about disarmament and its role in international peace and security.
• Origin: The United Nations General Assembly called for Disarmament Week in 1978 through the Final Document of its special session on disarmament.
• Participation: In 1995, the General Assembly invited governments and non-governmental organisations to participate actively in the observance.
• Organiser: The United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA).

• Date: Observed annually on 27 October by the Indian Army.
• Historical Significance: It commemorates the landing of Indian Army troops at Srinagar Airfield on 27 October 1947.
• Purpose: The day honours the contribution of the Infantry to India’s national security and is also known as Shaurya Diwas.

• Variety: Kufri Jamunia is a biofortified potato variety developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research–Central Potato Research Institute (ICAR-CPRI), Shimla.
• Release: It was officially released in 2024.
• Key Feature: The variety is characterised by its dark purple skin.
• Importance: Biofortification aims to improve the nutritional quality of crops through plant breeding and related methods.

• Achievement: Himachal Pradesh recorded a 100% survival rate among reintroduced Cheer Pheasants in 2024–25, compared with 11.11% in 2019–20.
• Development: During Wildlife Week in October 2026, 12 captive-bred birds were released, according to the supplied material.
• Significance: The result indicates progress in conservation and the reintroduction of this threatened pheasant species.
• Importance: The Cheer Pheasant is a Himalayan bird whose conservation depends on habitat protection and effective population management.

• Amendment: On 23 October 2026, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways amended the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989.
• Fuel Types: E85 contains up to 85% ethanol, while E100 refers to ethanol fuel.
• Objective: Flex-fuel vehicles are designed to operate on petrol and specified ethanol blends, helping expand the use of alternative fuels.
• Significance: The amendment concerns the regulatory framework for vehicles using higher ethanol blends.

• Agreement: On 27 October 2026, Sarvam signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff under the Ministry of Defence.
• Purpose: The agreement establishes a framework for artificial intelligence projects for the Indian Armed Forces.
• Importance: AI can support military data analysis, decision-making and operational planning.
• Strategic Significance: The collaboration reflects efforts to develop and apply indigenous AI capabilities in defence.