Current Affairs - 31 October 2026

🏛️ NATIONAL NEWS

1. 151st Birth Anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (Rashtriya Ekta Diwas)

Briefing: India observed the 151st birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on October 31, 2026, celebrated nationwide as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day). The main ceremonial parade and national tributes were led at the Statue of Unity in Ekta Nagar (Kevadia), Gujarat.
Exam Points:
Historic Role: Sardar Patel played a pivotal role in integrating over 560 princely states into the Indian Union post-independence.
Key Titles: Known as the "Iron Man of India" and the architect of the All India Services (IAS/IPS), earning him the title "Patron Saint of India's Civil Servants".
Civilian Award: Conferred with India's highest civilian honor, the Bharat Ratna, posthumously in 1991.
Monument: The Statue of Unity is the world's tallest statue, standing at 182 meters on the Narmada River basin facing the Sardar Sarovar Dam.

2. Exercise 'GARUDA SHAKTI 2026' (11th Edition)

Briefing: The 11th edition of the bilateral joint military exercise 'GARUDA SHAKTI 2026' between the Indian Army Special Forces and the Indonesian National Armed Forces commenced at Banyuwangi, Indonesia.
Exam Points:
Participating Forces: Indian Army Special Forces & Indonesian Special Forces (Kopassus).
Host Location: Banyuwangi, Indonesia.
Objective: Enhancing tactical synergy, mutual operational understanding, counter-terrorism expertise, and endurance operations in unconventional environments.
Strategic Relevance: Strengthens India's ACT EAST policy and defence cooperation near key regional maritime chokepoints (Malacca Strait and Sunda Strait).
Other India-Indonesia Exercises: Samudra Shakti (Naval Exercise) and IND-INDO CORPAT (Coordinated Patrol).

3. Cabinet Approval for Pradhan Mantri Viksit Gram Swaraj Yojana (PM VGSY)

Briefing: The Union Cabinet approved the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Gram Swaraj Yojana (PM VGSY), a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) with an outlay of ₹7,395.55 crore spanning a 5-year period. The initiative aims to strengthen grassroots governance and digital infrastructure across Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) nationwide.
Exam Points:
Type of Scheme: Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) managed by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
Financial Allocation: ₹7,395.55 crore for FY2026–27 to FY2030–31.
Constitutional Provision: Panchayati Raj was constitutionalized via the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 (Part IX, Article 243 to 243O, 11th Schedule).
Core Objective: Digitization of Gram Panchayats, capacity building of local elected representatives, and enabling data-driven local governance.

Briefing: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the NVS-03 navigation satellite aboard the GSLV-F18 rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota. The first orbit-raising maneuver was successfully completed on October 31, 2026.
Exam Points:
Launch Vehicle: GSLV-F18 (marking a key flight for India's Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle series).
Payload: NVS-03, the third satellite in India’s next-generation navigation satellite series.
ISRO
Strategic Objective: Designed to strengthen and ensure the continuity of NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation), India's indigenous regional satellite navigation system.
Key Technological Features: Carries an advanced indigenous atomic clock and introduces the civilian L1 navigation signal alongside existing L5 and S-band frequencies.
Coverage Area: Indian landmass and an extended region up to 1,500 km around India's geopolitical boundary.

1. LA28 Olympic & Paralympic Games Slogan Unveiled

Briefing: Organizers of the 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games, scheduled to be held in Los Angeles, USA, officially unveiled the main campaign slogan: "Stars Align".
Exam Points:
Host City: Los Angeles, California, USA (3rd time hosting the Summer Olympics: 1932, 1984, 2028).
New Sports Included for LA28: Cricket (T20 format), Flag Football, Lacrosse, Squash, and Baseball/Softball.
Olympic Governing Body: International Olympic Committee (IOC), headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland.

2. Ballon d'Or 2026 Awards Ceremony (London Host City)

Briefing: The 2026 Ballon d'Or awards ceremony took place in London, marking the first time the prestigious ceremony moved away from Paris. England's Harry Kane won the Men’s Ballon d’Or, while Spain’s Alexia Putellas won the Women’s Ballon d’Or.
Exam Points:
Men’s Winner: Harry Kane (England / FC Bayern Munich) — first English player to win since Michael Owen in 2001.
Women’s Winner: Alexia Putellas (Spain / London City Lionesses) — her 3rd career Ballon d'Or title (2021, 2022, 2026).
Kopa Trophy (Best Young Player U-21): Lamine Yamal (Spain / FC Barcelona).
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper): Unai Simón (Spain / Athletic Bilbao).
Organizing Body: Presented annually by France Football magazine in partnership with UEFA.

1. Historic Gold at Senior World Wrestling Championships 2026

Briefing: Indian wrestler Manisha Bhanwala won the gold medal in the women’s 59 kg freestyle category at the 2026 Senior World Wrestling Championships held in Astana, Kazakhstan.
Exam Points:
Historic Milestone: Manisha Bhanwala became the first Indian woman to win a gold medal at the Senior World Wrestling Championships.
Wrestling History: She is only the second Indian overall to win a World Wrestling Championship gold after Sushil Kumar (2010 Moscow, Men's 66 kg Freestyle).
Final Bout: Defeated Abigail Nette (USA) 8–6 in the final match.
Venue: Astana, Kazakhstan.

2. India Selected to Host 2029 World Weightlifting Championships

Briefing: The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) announced that Ahmedabad, Gujarat, will host the 2029 Senior World Weightlifting Championships.
Exam Points:
Historic First: Marks the first time India will host the flagship World Senior Weightlifting Championships.
Governing Body: International Weightlifting Federation (IWF), headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Host City: Ahmedabad, India.