Today Current Affairs 23 October 2026 – Compiled from official public sources (PIB, Akashvani, DD News). Important news and authentic facts for UPSC, SSC, UPPSC, Defence, Banking and State competitive exams.
Art and Culture
Shilp Samagam Mela 2026 Underway in Guwahati
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, commenced the eight-day Shilp Samagam Mela 2026 at Farm Gate, Khanapara in Guwahati, Assam, on 23 October 2026, scheduled to run until 28 October 2026.
- A total of 75 artisans, including 31 women artisans, are participating in the event to display approximately 40 varieties of handloom and handicraft products.
- The Mela is organized to provide marketing support to beneficiaries of the Ministry’s three National Corporations: NSFDC, NSKFDC, and NBCFDC.
- The event highlights the promotion of the BHARAT-TULIP (Traditional Artisans’ Upliftment Livelihood Programme) initiative to facilitate product marketing through physical outlets and e-commerce platforms.
Economy
India and Poland Target Doubled Trade by 2030 to Deepen Strategic Ties
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on 22 October 2026 that India and Poland aim to double bilateral trade by 2030 through enhanced cooperation in defence and technology.
- The India-European Union Free Trade Agreement has broadened economic opportunities and bilateral momentum between the two nations.
- Indian benchmark equity indices Sensex and Nifty declined in early trade on Thursday due to a broad sell-off across Asian markets.
- Elevated crude oil prices, firm US bond yields, and selling in power and metal stocks weighed on investor sentiment.
Environment
Magnitude 7.0 Earthquake Strikes Tibet’s Nagqu City
A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Baqen County in Nagqu City, Tibet, resulting in 16 fatalities and over 40 injuries on 22 October 2026.
- Over 1,600 rescue personnel have been deployed to the affected region to assist victims and conduct emergency relief operations.
- The disaster led to the collapse of at least 339 homes and 20 livestock sheds, alongside widespread communication disruptions and precautionary halting of train services.
- India’s National Centre for Seismology reported that the tremor occurred at 8:03 pm Indian Standard Time at a depth of 173 kilometres, approximately 400 kilometres from Lhasa.
Government Schemes
Union Agriculture Minister Launches Nationwide ‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan’ from Haryana
Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the nationwide ‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan’ from Taraori in Haryana’s Karnal district on 23 October 2026 to promote soil conservation and sustainable farming practices.
- The Central government approved the construction of 28,422 permanent houses for eligible poor families in Haryana under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY)-Gramin with a sanctioned outlay of ₹1,343.06 crore.
- The nationwide public awareness campaign under the Abhiyan is scheduled to be conducted from October 22 to November 30, involving agricultural scientists, universities, and officials reaching out directly to villages.
- The Union Government provides fertiliser subsidies exceeding ₹1.5 lakh crore, keeping retail prices capped at ₹266 for a bag of urea and ₹1,350 for di-ammonium phosphate (DAP).
Yamuna Rejuvenation Projects Launched in Delhi
Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched Yamuna rejuvenation projects worth ₹8,941 crore at an official ceremony in Delhi on 22 October 2026, setting a target to clean the river by May 2029.
- The initiative comprises the inauguration of 10 projects and the initiation of 33 new projects aimed at upgrading sewage treatment plants, installing decentralised STP pumping stations, and expanding household sewer connections.
- The central government and the state governments of Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh have formulated a joint time-bound roadmap to curb industrial wastewater, dairy waste, and untreated sewage discharge into the Yamuna.
- The Delhi government has successfully cleared 2.17 crore metric tonnes of garbage and reclaimed 100 acres of land, significantly reducing the height of landfill mounds at Okhla, Bhalswa, and Ghazipur.
PM-DAKSH Scheme Performance and Integration
The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment released a factual report on 22 October 2026 detailing the implementation and performance of the PM-DAKSH scheme.
- A total of 1,87,305 candidates were trained and 96,162 were placed under the PM-DAKSH scheme between 2020–21 and 2023–24, incurring an expenditure of ₹309.5 crore against allotted funds of ₹276.47 crore.
- The scheme was officially subsumed under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship’s Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) starting in 2024–25 to prevent duplication of training job roles.
- The program was executed through the National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation, the National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation, and the National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation.
Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan Reaches Over 35 Crore People Nationwide
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment announced on 22 October 2026 that the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan has successfully reached over 35 crore people across the country.
- The outreach includes over 13.94 crore youth and 10.86 crore women.
- The campaign has actively engaged with more than 32 lakh educational institutions nationwide.
- The initiative operates under the broader framework of the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction, having been originally launched in 2020.
International
India to Host 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in New Delhi
The Parliament of India announced on 22 October 2026 that it will host the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan on October 26 and 27, 2026.
- The central theme of the forum is “Strengthening Parliaments for People-Centric Development.”.
- The deliberations are structured around four high-level sessions focusing on Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability.
- A preparatory meeting of the Secretaries of the delegations is scheduled for October 25, 2026, to finalise the Joint Statement.