21 October 2026 Current Affairs Study Material and Questions – Page 3

Correct answer: C — The Chief of the Army Staff. The Chief of the Army Staff chairs the Army’s apex biannual forum. A minister may address the conference or release a document without becoming its chair. Similarly, invited speakers from other services and departments do not replace the officer responsible for presiding over this Army forum. The conference was scheduled in New Delhi from 21 to 23 October 2026 and chaired by the Chief of the Army Staff. The opening announcement identified the planned release of the Land Warfare Doctrine by the Defence Minister as a key item on its agenda. Official source: Press Information Bureau

Correct answer: B — Land Warfare Doctrine. The Land Warfare Doctrine was the document identified in the opening announcement. The question uses scheduled because an agenda announcement is evidence of a plan, not by itself proof of completion. Relate land warfare to the Army context and avoid confusing the meeting with naval or civilian aviation events. The conference was scheduled in New Delhi from 21 to 23 October 2026 and chaired by the Chief of the Army Staff. The opening announcement identified the planned release of the Land Warfare Doctrine by the Defence Minister as a key item on its agenda. Official source: Press Information Bureau

Correct answer: A — Detecting fighter-size targets and mini/micro drones. The system concerns aerial surveillance, including fighter-size objects and very small unmanned aircraft. Underwater detection, satellite navigation and earthquake prediction are different problem domains. Recognising the word radar is useful, but the decisive detail is the class of targets described in this particular announcement. The Ministry of Defence signed an approximately ₹770 crore contract with BEL for Improved Low Level Light Weight Radars for the Indian Army. The system detects and tracks aerial targets, including small drones, and can prioritise targets. It supports responses to unmanned aerial threats. Official source: Press Information Bureau

Correct answer: D — Bharat Electronics Limited. BEL is the manufacturer associated with this procurement. The other choices are plausible defence-industry distractors, but being a defence company does not make an organisation the supplier in every contract. Match the radar designation to the specific procurement announcement instead of selecting a familiar company name. The Ministry of Defence signed an approximately ₹770 crore contract with BEL for Improved Low Level Light Weight Radars for the Indian Army. The system detects and tracks aerial targets, including small drones, and can prioritise targets. It supports responses to unmanned aerial threats. Official source: Press Information Bureau

Correct answer: B — 2022–23. The stated base year is 2022–23. Older textbook tables can retain a previous base year, so the dated release controls this question. A base year anchors the index series; it is not the year for which the latest monthly growth is being reported, and it is not a forecast year. September 2026 core-industry growth was reported as 7.9% year on year on a provisional basis. The release uses base year 2022–23. A growth rate compares production across time; an index level is a separate number and should not be read as a percentage increase. Official source: Press Information Bureau

Correct answer: C — 7.9%. 7.9% is the aggregate September growth figure requested here. A distractor may be another valid statistic from the same release but for a different period or sector. Therefore, first match September, aggregate ICI, provisional and year-on-year; only then choose the numerical answer. September 2026 core-industry growth was reported as 7.9% year on year on a provisional basis. The release uses base year 2022–23. A growth rate compares production across time; an index level is a separate number and should not be read as a percentage increase. Official source: Press Information Bureau

Correct answer: C — Viability Gap Funding. Viability Gap Funding addresses the gap that can prevent a socially useful regional service from being commercially viable. In a multiple-choice question, connect the abbreviation to the financing mechanism rather than treating it as a new airport, aircraft or fare category. Support does not mean that operating costs disappear. UDAN was launched on 21 October 2016 to make regional air travel more accessible. Its design combines regional routes, fare-related conditions and viability-gap funding. Completing ten years in 2026 refers to the original scheme, not the age of every later expansion. Official source: Press Information Bureau

Correct answer: A — Ten years. The interval from 21 October 2016 to 21 October 2026 is exactly ten years. Count from the original launch rather than from a modified phase or an individual route opening. The anniversary tests chronology, while a question about the first flight would require a different reference point. UDAN was launched on 21 October 2016 to make regional air travel more accessible. Its design combines regional routes, fare-related conditions and viability-gap funding. Completing ten years in 2026 refers to the original scheme, not the age of every later expansion. Official source: Press Information Bureau

Correct answer: D — Hot Springs in Ladakh. Hot Springs is the location identified in the official account. Do not replace it with another Himalayan border location simply because it is better known. The incident happened in 1959, so linking this remembrance only to the 1962 war would also mix two different historical events. The 2026 ceremony took place at the National Police Memorial in New Delhi. The historical reference is the sacrifice of ten CRPF personnel at Hot Springs in Ladakh on 21 October 1959. The observance honours personnel who died while performing their duties. Official source: Press Information Bureau

Correct answer: B — 21 October. 21 October is the annual date associated with this remembrance. The question asks for the commemorative date rather than the date on which a particular police organisation was established. Choosing a date merely because it is associated with national security would miss the specific historical connection. The 2026 ceremony took place at the National Police Memorial in New Delhi. The historical reference is the sacrifice of ten CRPF personnel at Hot Springs in Ladakh on 21 October 1959. The observance honours personnel who died while performing their duties. Official source: Press Information Bureau