Current affairs 19 Oct 2026

Monday

Tamil Test

International Day for the Eradication of Poverty 2026 (October 17): Focus on 'Safe Homes for All'

The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty falls on 17 October each year. First marked on 17 October 1987, it was formally recognised by the UN General Assembly through a 1992 resolution. Its aims…

Global Hunger Index 2026: World Hunger Score Worsens to 18.1; South Asia in 'Serious' Category

According to the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2026, issued by Welthungerhilfe (WHH), Helvetas and the Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict (IFHV), the world's hunger score has worsened to 18.1 from 17.6…

Forest Declaration Assessment 2026: Global Deforestation Fell 15% in 2025 but World Off Track for 2030

The Forest Declaration Assessment 2026 found that global deforestation declined by 15% in 2025, yet the world is not on course to halt and reverse forest loss by 2030. About 7 million hectares of forest…

Aldabra Giant Tortoise Population Recovers to Over 1.8 Lakh, Survey Finds

A 2026 survey puts the number of Aldabra giant tortoises (Aldabrachelys gigantea) on Aldabra Atoll at 180,000–183,000, exceeding the human population of Seychelles. The Seychelles Islands Foundation and the University of Exeter carried out the…

NASA's Perseverance Rover Sets Record for Longest Distance Driven on Another World

On 11 October 2026, NASA's Perseverance rover became the record holder for the longest distance driven on another world, covering 45.22 km (28.10 miles) on Mars and edging past the 45.16 km logged by NASA's…

ECI Announces Special Summary Revision of Electoral Rolls in 14 States and 3 UTs

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced a Special Summary Revision (SSR) of electoral rolls in 14 States and 3 Union Territories, fixing 1 January 2027 as the qualifying date. The exercise restarts yearly…

MHA Notifies Census (Amendment) Rules, 2026 to Widen Pool of Census Enumerators

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has notified the Census (Amendment) Rules, 2026, broadening who can serve as enumerators for India's forthcoming digital Census. The change amends Rule 3 of the Census Rules, 1990, framed…

PM-AJAY: 18,093 Villages Declared Adarsh Grams as of 8 September 2026

The Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY) is a scheme of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment aimed at improving the socio-economic and educational condition of Scheduled Caste communities. As of 8 September…

Supreme Court Recognises Children's Right to Access the Internet under Articles 21 and 19(1)(a)

Ruling that children are entitled to get online and use the internet, the Supreme Court placed this within their fundamental rights under Article 21 (Right to Life and Personal Liberty) and Article 19(1)(a) (Freedom of…

CDRI Framework: 57% of Tamil Nadu's Telecom Towers Face High Cyclonic Wind Risk

The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) studied the disaster exposure of telecom towers in Assam, Gujarat, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand. In Tamil Nadu, 57% of the 48,416 towers are located in zones of…