Daily Current Affairs Quiz: 16 October 2026
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1. As per FAO’s State of the World’s Forests (SOFO) 2026, how much additional area must the world restore by 2030 to meet existing pledges?
A. 44 million hectares
B. 127 million hectares
C. 470 million hectares
D. 489 million hectares
E. 1.56 billion hectares
View Answer
Explanation: The SOFO 2026 report finds that global restoration pledges cross 1 billion hectares, but only about 44 million hectares are reported as restored under FRA 2025. This leaves a gap of 470 million hectares to close by 2030. The report, published every two years by FAO (Rome), focuses this time on Forest and Landscape Restoration and notes that restoration can return up to $30 for every $1 invested.
2. According to SOFO 2026, which country ranks first in the world in forest area actively under restoration under FRA 2025?
A. China
B. Ethiopia
C. Brazil
D. India
E. Indonesia
View Answer
Explanation: India leads with about 9.8 million hectares under active restoration, ahead of China (7.9 million ha) and Ethiopia (5.0 million ha). Compensatory afforestation, agroforestry and Joint Forest Management are key drivers. In its 7th National Report to the CBD, however, India reported 18.9 million hectares under forest and landscape restoration, which places it second after China on that measure.
3. Which State has launched India’s first State-level Red List Assessment of Ecosystems (RLE)?
A. Karnataka
B. Kerala
C. Tamil Nadu
D. Odisha
E. Assam
View Answer
Explanation: The Kerala State Biodiversity Board has started a one-year assessment covering all 14 districts of the State. Unlike the familiar IUCN Red List, which rates species, this exercise rates whole ecosystems such as forest types, wetlands and grasslands for their risk of collapse. It uses the five standard criteria of the IUCN Red List of Ecosystems framework, including habitat loss and environmental degradation.
4. India has approved accession to the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA). Where is the SIOFA headquarters located?
A. Rome, Italy
B. Port Louis, Mauritius
C. Victoria, Seychelles
D. Saint-Denis, Réunion Island (France)
E. Colombo, Sri Lanka
View Answer
Explanation: SIOFA is a Regional Fisheries Management Organisation that manages non-tuna, non-migratory fish stocks such as orange roughy, alfonsino and toothfish in the high seas of the Southern Indian Ocean. It was concluded at Rome in 2006 under FAO and came into force in 2012. India, a Cooperating Non-Contracting Party since 2022, now becomes a full Contracting Party.
5. The WINDS weather network, meant to support crop insurance payouts under PMFBY, is executed through which body?
A. India Meteorological Department
B. National Remote Sensing Centre
C. Mahalanobis National Crop Forecast Centre
D. Agriculture Insurance Company of India
E. National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting
View Answer
Explanation: WINDS (Weather Information Network and Data System) is run by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and executed through the MNCFC, with States implementing it through private partners. It aims to install Automatic Rain Gauges and Automatic Weather Stations to give hyper-local data for PMFBY claims. The project is over a year behind schedule, with more than 96% of planned sensors not yet installed.
6. Under the PM-SETU scheme, Government ITIs in which two clusters will be upgraded in partnership with ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India?
A. Surat and Visakhapatnam
B. Ahmedabad and Vijayawada
C. Vadodara and Guntur
D. Rajkot and Tirupati
E. Hazira and Kakinada
View Answer
Explanation: The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship signed a Shareholders’ Agreement with AM/NS India and the governments of Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh. Nine ITIs will be upgraded with an approved investment of ₹440 crore: five in Surat (₹240 crore) and four in Visakhapatnam (₹200 crore). Special Purpose Vehicles will manage the clusters, with AM/NS India holding a 51% stake.
7. Fitch Solutions’ BMI has raised India’s GDP growth forecast for FY 2026-27 to what level?
A. 6.3%
B. 6.8%
C. 7.0%
D. 7.5%
E. 7.8%
View Answer
Explanation: BMI lifted its FY27 forecast from 6.8% to 7.5%, citing strong industrial growth, economic momentum and investment in AI infrastructure. At the same time, it cut the FY28 forecast to 6.3% on worries about household consumption, higher oil prices and possible El Niño-related disruption. Such forecasts by rating agencies are frequently asked in banking exams.
8. Which of the following newly announced LIC plans provides guaranteed annuity rates for retirement income?
A. Health Shield
B. New Cancer Cover
C. New Jeevan Dhara-II
D. Jeevan Utsav
E. New Jeevan Shanti
View Answer
Explanation: LIC announced three plans: New Jeevan Dhara-II (Plan 892), Health Shield (Plan 907) and New Cancer Cover (Plan 908). Jeevan Dhara-II is the annuity product offering guaranteed rates for pension income. Health Shield pays fixed benefits for specified health risks, while New Cancer Cover pays on diagnosis of specified early or major-stage cancer. The plans become available from 19 October 2026.
9. Karur Vysya Bank has partnered with Zurich Kotak General Insurance. What is Zurich Insurance Group’s stake in this joint venture?
A. 26%
B. 49%
C. 51%
D. 70%
E. 74%
View Answer
Explanation: Zurich Kotak General Insurance is a joint venture in which Zurich Insurance Group holds 70% and Kotak Mahindra Bank holds 30%. Under the tie-up, KVB will distribute general (non-life) insurance products through its branch network. Such bancassurance arrangements widen customer access to insurance and give banks a stable stream of fee and commission income.
10. Under SEBI’s finalised Closing Auction Session rules, settlement prices of expiring stock and index derivatives will be based on the VWAP of which period?
A. Final 10 minutes of trading
B. Final 15 minutes of trading
C. Final 30 minutes of trading
D. Final 60 minutes of trading
E. Entire trading day
View Answer
Explanation: SEBI retained the volume-weighted average price of the last 30 minutes of regular trading. For index derivatives, the VWAP of constituent stocks in the cash market is used; for stock derivatives, the underlying stock’s VWAP across exchanges is used. Most changes apply from 7 December 2026, while rules for moving certain unexecuted orders into the Closing Auction Session start on 8 February 2027.
11. The National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) has been continued till 2030-31 under which new name?
A. Pradhan Mantri Samajik Suraksha Yojana
B. Pradhan Mantri Samajik Sahayata Yojana
C. Pradhan Mantri Jan Kalyan Pension Yojana
D. Pradhan Mantri Garib Sahayata Yojana
E. Pradhan Mantri Gramin Samajik Yojana
View Answer
Explanation: The Union Cabinet approved continuing NSAP from FY2026-27 to 2030-31 with an outlay of ₹53,428 crore, renaming it PMSSY. It is a non-contributory, 100% centrally funded scheme run by the Department of Rural Development, giving pensions to BPL elderly persons, widows, persons with disabilities and families that lose their breadwinner. It flows from Article 41, a Directive Principle of State Policy.
12. Under the revamped Pradhan Mantri Divyangjan Pension Yojana, what is the new minimum disability threshold for eligibility?
A. 21% benchmark disability
B. 40% benchmark disability
C. 50% benchmark disability
D. 60% benchmark disability
E. 80% severe disability
View Answer
Explanation: Earlier, the disability pension (IGNDPS) required 80% severe disability and a minimum age of 18. Now, 40% benchmark disability is enough, in line with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, and the minimum age has been removed so eligibility starts from birth. Other components were also renamed, for example the old age pension is now Pradhan Mantri Vridhavastha Pension Yojana.
13. India’s merchandise exports rose 23.04% year-on-year in September 2026 to reach what value?
A. $30.21 billion
B. $33.0 billion
C. $44.4 billion
D. $53.3 billion
E. $74.61 billion
View Answer
Explanation: Exports were driven by petroleum products (up 31.9% to $6.2 billion), electronic goods (up 70.44% to $5.3 billion) and chemicals (up 24.21% to $3 billion). Imports stood at $74.61 billion, so the merchandise trade deficit narrowed to $30.21 billion from $33 billion a year earlier. A narrower trade deficit eases pressure on the current account and the rupee.
14. As per the PLFS monthly bulletin for September 2026, what was the unemployment rate in urban areas?
A. 4.2%
B. 4.9%
C. 5.0%
D. 5.2%
E. 6.9%
View Answer
Explanation: The overall unemployment rate stayed at 5%, unchanged from August, as per the NSO’s Periodic Labour Force Survey bulletin. Urban unemployment (6.9%) was much higher than rural unemployment (4.2%). Among women it was 5.2% against 4.9% for men. The labour force participation rate eased slightly from 55.6% to 55.5%.
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