In Current Affairs for .30 October 2026, we will see the latest national and international current affairs news. These important current affairs will be beneficial for your upcoming NDA, CDS, CDS OTA, AFCAT, TA, Agniveer Army, Agniveer Navy, Agniveer Air Force, Women Military Police, INET, MNS, ACC exams, SCO, PCSL, CAPF, and SSB interviews, and direct entries for Army, Navy, and Air Force like SSC Tech, TGC, JAG, NCC, TES, 10+2 Cadet. Download a PDF file about current events at the end of this article. Let us now see the Current Affairs.
Current Affairs 30 October 2026
World Boxing U19 Championships 2026: India Wins Four Medals
The World Boxing U19 Championships 2026 witnessed participation from 474 athletes, with 20 world champions being crowned across the competition. India delivered a commendable performance, finishing with a total of four medals, including one gold, one silver and two bronze.
India’s gold medal came through Aditya, who emerged victorious in the men’s 55 kg category. In the final, he defeated Russia’s Islam Magomedov by a 4–1 decision after making a strong comeback.
Aditya initially lost the opening round, with the judges favouring his opponent by 3–2. However, he recovered in the subsequent rounds and produced a stronger performance to secure the championship title.
In the women’s 80 kg category, Megha Sheokand claimed the silver medal. She lost the final against Russia’s Ekaterina Frolova by a 0–5 decision.
According to the championship medal table provided in the presentation, Russia finished first with five gold medals, followed by Uzbekistan with four and the United States with two. India secured seventh position in the listed gold-medal standings with one gold.
The championship provided an important platform for young boxers to demonstrate their skills and compete at the international level.
Key facts for competitive exams
- Championship: World Boxing U19 Championships 2026.
- Total participating athletes: 474.
- Total world champions crowned: 20.
- India’s medal tally: 4 (1 Gold, 1 Silver, 2 Bronze).
- India’s gold medallist: Aditya.
- Aditya’s category: Men’s 55 kg.
- Silver medallist: Megha Sheokand.
- Megha’s category: Women’s 80 kg.
- Gold-medal table leader: Russia (5 gold medals).
UNEP Recognises India’s Ganges River Dolphin Conservation Programme
India’s efforts to protect the Ganges River dolphin have received international recognition after the conservation programme was included among the 35 UN World Restoration Flagships identified by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
The recognition was featured in UNEP’s report titled Nature’s Comeback: Scaling Ecosystem Restoration for People and Planet. The initiative highlights the importance of combining wildlife protection, restoration of river ecosystems and sustainable livelihood opportunities for local communities.
India has developed a long-term Comprehensive Action Plan for Dolphin Conservation covering 2022–2047. The plan aims to protect riverine and marine dolphins in their natural habitats while improving the facilities and conditions required for their survival.
The recognition comes during the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030), a global initiative focused on preventing, halting and reversing ecosystem degradation.
The Ganges River dolphin is an important indicator of the health of freshwater ecosystems. It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and has been recognised as India’s National Aquatic Animal since 2009.
Its natural habitat includes the Ganges–Brahmaputra–Meghna river system and connected river stretches. However, its survival is threatened by habitat degradation, water pollution, dams and barrages, reduced river flow and accidental entanglement in fishing nets.
The international recognition highlights India’s efforts to link biodiversity conservation with ecosystem restoration and community development.
Key facts for competitive exams
- Recognising organisation: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
- Recognition: UN World Restoration Flagship.
- Total recognised initiatives mentioned: 35.
- Report: Nature’s Comeback: Scaling Ecosystem Restoration for People and Planet.
- Conservation plan: 2022–2047.
- National Aquatic Animal: Ganges River dolphin.
- Declared National Aquatic Animal in: 2009.
- IUCN status: Endangered.
- Major habitat: Ganges–Brahmaputra–Meghna river system.
- UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration: 2021–2030.
India’s Extreme Poverty Rate Declines to 2.6%: World Bank
India has recorded a substantial reduction in extreme poverty, with the rate falling from 27.1% in 2011 to 2.6% in 2023, according to the World Bank’s October 2026 Poverty and Equity Brief. The report estimates that approximately 496 million people moved out of extreme poverty during this period.
The World Bank also highlighted improvements at the lower-middle-income poverty threshold of US$4.20 per day, measured using 2021 purchasing power parity (PPP). At this threshold, India’s poverty rate declined from 57.7% in 2011 to 16.1% in 2023.
The report associated the progress with several economic and social factors. These include increased household consumption, greater employment opportunities, particularly for women, and expanded government welfare support such as food subsidies.
The World Bank’s indicative microsimulation estimates suggest that poverty at the US$4.20 threshold could decline further to 14.2% in 2026 and 12.1% by 2028. These projections may change as updated economic and labour-market information becomes available.
The report also referred to improvements in multidimensional poverty. According to the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), India’s Multidimensional Poverty Index declined from 53.8% in 2005–06 to 16.4% in 2019–21. The World Bank’s own multidimensional measure stood at 15.5% in 2022–23.
Despite the progress, poverty remains concentrated in certain regions. The report indicates that around 57% of India’s poor population lives in a continuous geographical belt stretching from Uttar Pradesh to West Bengal.
Employment also expanded significantly, increasing by approximately 134 million between 2017 and 2023. A considerable share of this growth came from rural women entering paid employment.
The findings underline the role of economic growth, employment generation and social protection programmes in improving living standards.
Key facts for competitive exams
- Reporting organisation: World Bank.
- Report: October 2026 Poverty and Equity Brief.
- Extreme poverty rate in 2011: 27.1%.
- Extreme poverty rate in 2023: 2.6%.
- Estimated people moving out of extreme poverty: 496 million.
- Lower-middle-income poverty line: US$4.20 per day (2021 PPP).
- Poverty at US$4.20 threshold in 2023: 16.1%.
- OPHI Multidimensional Poverty Index: 53.8% (2005–06) to 16.4% (2019–21).
- Employment growth (2017–2023): Approximately 134 million.
Anil Menon Completes His Fourth Spacewalk at the International Space Station
NASA astronaut Anil Menon completed his fourth career spacewalk on 29 October 2026, working alongside Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
The extravehicular activity (EVA) lasted 7 hours and 11 minutes and formed part of ongoing work to upgrade the station’s electrical power infrastructure.
During the operation, the astronauts installed the seventh of eight new Roll-Out Solar Arrays (ROSA) planned as part of the ISS power-system enhancement programme.
The spacewalk also marked an important milestone in NASA’s station operations. It was the 100th US spacewalk conducted from the station’s Quest airlock without a Space Shuttle docked.
Following this mission, Menon’s cumulative spacewalking time reached 26 hours and 31 minutes.
For Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk, the operation was particularly significant because it was his first spacewalk. He consequently became the fifth Canadian astronaut to perform an extravehicular activity.
According to the supplied presentation, Menon ranks second among Indian-origin astronauts in terms of the number of spacewalks, after Sunita Williams.
Menon was born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Ukrainian and Indian immigrant parents. He travelled to the ISS in July 2026 for an eight-month mission.
The achievement highlights international cooperation in human spaceflight and the continuing maintenance and development of the International Space Station.
Key facts for competitive exams
- Astronaut: Anil Menon.
- Space agency: NASA.
- Spacewalk date: 29 October 2026.
- Number of career spacewalks: 4.
- Spacewalk duration: 7 hours 11 minutes.
- Total spacewalking time: 26 hours 31 minutes.
- Space station: International Space Station (ISS).
- Canadian astronaut: Joshua Kutryk.
- Solar arrays installed: Seventh of eight Roll-Out Solar Arrays.
- Important milestone: 100th US spacewalk from the Quest airlock without a docked Space Shuttle.
- Indian-origin astronaut with more spacewalks: Sunita Williams.
Review Questions
Q1. How many medals did India win at the World Boxing U19 Championships 2026?
A) 2
B) 3
C) 4
D) 5
Correct Answer: C) 4
Q2. Aditya won the gold medal in which category at the World Boxing U19 Championships 2026?
A) Men’s 50 kg
B) Men’s 55 kg
C) Men’s 60 kg
D) Men’s 65 kg
Correct Answer: B) Men’s 55 kg
Q3. Which Russian boxer was defeated by Aditya in the men’s 55 kg final?
A) Islam Magomedov
B) Ekaterina Frolova
C) Ivan Petrov
D) Alexander Ivanov
Correct Answer: A) Islam Magomedov
Q4. Which organisation recognised India’s Ganges River dolphin conservation programme among the UN World Restoration Flagships?
A) UNESCO
B) UNDP
C) UNEP
D) IUCN
Correct Answer: C) UNEP
Q5. Since which year has the Ganges River dolphin been recognised as India’s National Aquatic Animal?
A) 2005
B) 2007
C) 2009
D) 2012
Correct Answer: C) 2009
Q6. According to the World Bank’s October 2026 Poverty and Equity Brief, India’s extreme poverty rate declined to what level in 2023?
A) 5.6%
B) 4.2%
C) 3.8%
D) 2.6%
Correct Answer: D) 2.6%
Q7. Approximately how many people moved out of extreme poverty in India between 2011 and 2023, according to the World Bank?
A) 296 million
B) 396 million
C) 496 million
D) 596 million
Correct Answer: C) 496 million
Q8. NASA astronaut Anil Menon completed his fourth spacewalk at which space station?
A) Tiangong Space Station
B) International Space Station
C) Mir Space Station
D) Skylab
Correct Answer: B) International Space Station
Q9. How long did Anil Menon’s fourth spacewalk on 29 October 2026 last?
A) 5 hours 30 minutes
B) 6 hours 15 minutes
C) 7 hours 11 minutes
D) 8 hours 20 minutes
Correct Answer: C) 7 hours 11 minutes
Q10. Which Canadian astronaut completed his first spacewalk alongside Anil Menon?
A) David Saint-Jacques
B) Joshua Kutryk
C) Jeremy Hansen
D) Chris Hadfield
Correct Answer: B) Joshua Kutryk
