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TOPPER IAS · CURRENT AFFAIRS INTELLIGENCE

24 October 2026

15 developments → 6 GS areas → 20 minutes · all editions · Read in: हिन्दी · ಕನ್ನಡ · తెలుగు · தமிழ் · മലയാളം · मराठी · বাংলা · ગુજરાતી · ଓଡ଼ିଆ · ਪੰਜਾਬੀ

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Today's 20-minute UPSC session

24 October 2026 · read the priority topics, take the test, revise what you missed

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Today's UPSC priority

5 topics you cannot afford to miss — and why

  1. India accounts for about one in seven recorded blue whale strandings worldwideEnvironment · asked in UPSC 2013; factual, Prelims-type
  2. India remains the world's largest extractor of groundwaterEnvironment · asked in UPSC 2023; factual, Prelims-type
  3. Pumped storage hydropower: the 'water battery' for renewable powerEconomy · asked in UPSC 2024
  4. Aghanashini-Vedavathi river-linking proposal in focusKarnataka · asked in UPSC 2016; factual, Prelims-type; Karnataka-specific
  5. Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) in focusPolity · factual, Prelims-type
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Personalise: exam · Prelims / Mains · subject
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Must read 5 · Important 8 · Quick scan 2

High Prelims + Mains value · PYQ-linked · read fully

EnvironmentGAPrelims ★★★★★ Mains ★★☆☆☆

India holds one in seven of 470 blue whale strandings: the IUCN Endangered status GS3 expects

India accounts for about one in seven recorded blue whale strandings worldwide

Why in News? India has about one in seven of the 470 recorded global blue whale strandings, mostly on the west coast.

Prelims The blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) is categorised as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.

Mains GS3 (Environment): Whale strandings on India's west coast signal pressures on marine mammals such as ship strikes, entanglement in fishing gear and oc…

🔁 PYQ · UPSC 2013Read · 2 min →Test
EnvironmentGAPrelims ★★★★★ Mains ★★☆☆☆

World's biggest groundwater extractor is India: the CGWB assessment role GS1/GS3 water questions test

India remains the world's largest extractor of groundwater

Why in News? India is the world's largest groundwater extractor; the CGWB assesses the resource with the States.

Prelims The Central Ground Water Board is a subordinate office of the Ministry of Jal Shakti and is responsible for scientific management of groundwater.

Mains GS1/GS3 (Water resources, Environment, Agriculture). India's heavy, irrigation-driven groundwater extraction threatens aquifers and long-term water se…

🔁 PYQ · UPSC 2023Read · 2 min →Test
EconomyGAPrelims ★★★★☆ Mains ★★★☆☆

Is a dam's stored water chemical energy? The pumped storage trap GS3 energy questions set

Pumped storage hydropower: the 'water battery' for renewable power

Why in News? Pumped storage plants store surplus power as raised water and release it through turbines at peak demand.

Prelims Pumped storage hydropower stores surplus electricity as gravitational potential energy of water raised to an upper reservoir.

Mains GS3 (Infrastructure - energy): Rising shares of variable solar and wind power create mismatches between supply and peak demand. Pumped storage hydropo…

🔁 PYQ · UPSC 2024Read · 2 min →Test
KarnatakaKPSCPrelims ★★★★★ Mains ★★☆☆☆ KPSC ★★★★★

Which river does the Vedavathi feed? The Aghanashini link question Karnataka rivers papers love to test

Aghanashini-Vedavathi river-linking proposal in focus

Why in News? The proposed link would divert water from the west-flowing Aghanashini towards the Vedavathi, a Tungabhadra tributary.

Prelims The Aghanashini is a west-flowing river that drains into the Arabian Sea, whereas the Vedavathi flows eastwards.

Mains GS Paper 1 (Indian geography) and GS Paper 3 (irrigation, infrastructure, environment). Issue: diverting a west-flowing river of the Western Ghats tow…

🔁 PYQ · UPSC 2016Read · 2 min →Test
PolityGAPrelims ★★★★☆ Mains ★★★☆☆

Cybercrime is a State subject, so who coordinates it? The I4C answer GS3 internal security tests

Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) in focus

Why in News? I4C, under the Home Ministry, coordinates the national response to cybercrime.

Prelims I4C functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs and not under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

Mains GS3 (Internal security - cyber security). Cybercrime crosses State boundaries while police is a State subject, so a central coordinating body such as …

Read · 2 min →Test

Next: Important →

Know the fact and the angle · 1 minute each

International RelationsGAPrelims ★★★★☆ Mains ★★★☆☆

Poland's seven land neighbours, one surprising omission: the India-Poland strategic partnership facts GS2 tests

Polish PM Donald Tusk urges joint ventures as India and Poland sign an MoU in Bengaluru

Why in News? Poland's PM Donald Tusk calls for joint ventures with India during a Bengaluru visit where an MoU was signed.

Prelims India and Poland elevated their bilateral relationship to a strategic partnership in 2024.

Mains GS2: India-Europe relations. Central and Eastern Europe is gaining weight in India's outreach as the strategic partnership with Poland seeks to move f…

Read · 2 min →Test
International RelationsGAPrelims ★★★★☆ Mains ★★★☆☆

Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon share one Atlantic gulf: the West Africa map question Prelims geography expects you to place

Gulf of Guinea: a key Atlantic maritime region off West and Central Africa

Why in News? The Gulf of Guinea is the Atlantic gulf off West and Central Africa, bordered by Nigeria, Ghana and Cameroon.

Prelims The Gulf of Guinea is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean off West and Central Africa.

Mains GS1 (world geography) and GS2 (international relations): the gulf is a key Atlantic sea route and offshore oil region, so its location matters for ene…

Read · 2 min →Test
PolityGAPrelims ★★★☆☆ Mains ★★★☆☆

Over 18% struck off in Kalaburagi and Raichur: the Article 324 power behind SIR, explained

Few claims in Karnataka's backward districts after SIR draft deletions

Why in News? Draft SIR deletions exceeded 18% in several Karnataka districts, but claims for re-inclusion are few.

Prelims The superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of electoral rolls for Parliament and State Legislatures is vested in the Election Commission of India under Article 324(1).

Mains GS2 (Polity and Governance: Elections; role of the Election Commission). Large draft deletions under SIR, with few claims for re-inclusion in backward…

Read · 2 min →Test
EnvironmentGAPrelims ★★★★☆ Mains ★★☆☆☆

Escobar's hippos live in Colombia, but where are they native? The invasive alien species GS3 link

Colombia's feral 'cocaine hippos' remain an invasive-species concern

Why in News? The feral hippos of Colombia, descended from Escobar's animals, are an invasive species problem.

Prelims An invasive alien species is a non-native species introduced outside its natural range that harms native biodiversity, ecosystems or livelihoods.

Mains GS3 Environment: invasive alien species are a major driver of biodiversity loss. The Colombian hippo case shows how escaped exotic animals harm native…

Read · 2 min →Test
Environment
EnvironmentGAPrelims ★★★★☆ Mains ★★☆☆☆

A tank in Tiruppur is now a bird sanctuary: the protected-area categories GS3 Environment keeps testing

Nanjarayan Bird Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu in the spotlight

Why in News? Nanjarayan Bird Sanctuary, built around a tank in Tiruppur district, is in the news.

Prelims Statement: A sanctuary under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 is notified by the State Government; limited human activity such as grazing may be permitted, unlike in a National Park.

Mains GS3 Environment: wetlands and protected areas. Issue: village tanks are shrinking under encroachment, pollution and urban pressure, yet they sustain w…

Read · 2 min →Test
Science & TechGAPrelims ★★★★☆ Mains ★★☆☆☆

First Indian ever to win this Nobel-linked medal: the string theory physicist GS3 Science asks about

Ashoke Sen becomes the first Indian to receive the Oskar Klein Medal

Why in News? Ashoke Sen is the first Indian awarded the Oskar Klein Medal for his work in string theory.

Prelims The Oskar Klein Medal is awarded by Stockholm University together with the Nobel Committee for Physics.

Mains GS3 Science and Technology: Indian achievements in fundamental research. Global recognition for theoretical physics shows the strength of India's basi…

Read · 2 min →Test
KarnatakaKPSCPrelims ★★★★☆ Mains ★★☆☆☆ KPSC ★★★★★

Golden howdah of 750 kg, a 54-year-old elephant: Mysuru Dasara facts for Karnataka culture questions

Prashantha carries the golden howdah at Mysuru Dasara 2026

Why in News? The 54-year-old elephant Prashantha carried the roughly 750 kg golden howdah in the Dasara procession.

Prelims The Jamboo Savari of the Mysuru Dasara ends at the Bannimantap grounds, where the Banni tree is worshipped.

Mains GS Paper 1 (Indian culture) and Karnataka-specific papers: festivals like the Mysuru Dasara show how royal-era traditions survive as state-sponsored c…

Read · 2 min →Test
International
International RelationsGAPrelims ★★★☆☆ Mains ★★★☆☆

Founded 2001, India joined in 2017: the SCO facts every GS2 groupings question quietly tests

India represented at the 25th SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting in Dushanbe

Why in News? India was represented by the Defence Minister at the 25th SCO heads-of-government meeting in Dushanbe.

Prelims The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation was founded in 2001 and India became a full member in 2017.

Mains GS2: India's engagement with international groupings. The SCO offers India a platform for Central Asian connectivity, energy and counter-terrorism coo…

Read · 2 min →Test

Next: Quick scan →

Headlines only · open if it is your optional or state

⚡ Quick facts 19

One line each · the facts exams ask

  1. WorldThe Santa Marta Declaration focuses on accelerating the global phase-out of fossil fuels.
  2. WorldIndia's target year for achieving net-zero emissions is 2070.
  3. ReportBiochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) is the parameter used to indicate organic pollution in water.
  4. SchemeRajmargyatra is a mobile app meant for users of India's national highways.
  5. ReportSpecial Executive Magistrates are appointed by the State Government; their powers came into focus after political leaders were taken into custody and released.
  6. DayUnited Nations Day is observed every year on 24 October, the day the UN Charter came into force in 1945.
  7. DayWorld Polio Day is observed on 24 October.
  8. DayPolice Commemoration Day is observed on 21 October to honour police personnel killed in the line of duty.
  9. ReportSombhu Mitra was a noted Bengali theatre director and actor associated with the Bohurupee group.
  10. ReportThe Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 is the law under which FSSAI regulates food safety in India.
  11. SchemeThe Infant Milk Substitutes Act, 1992 regulates the production, supply and distribution of infant milk substitutes and infant foods.
  12. DayNational Unity Day is observed on 31 October on the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
  13. ReportBud rot is a destructive disease of coconut and other palms caused by Phytophthora pathogens.
  14. WorldPETA stands for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, an animal-rights organisation.
  15. DayHomi J. Bhabha, the architect of India's nuclear programme, was born on 30 October 1909.
  16. KarnatakaKarnataka's Legislative Assembly has 224 members.
  17. KarnatakaKarnataka's Legislative Council has 75 members.
  18. KarnatakaKarnataka Rajyotsava is observed on 1 November, marking the unified state's formation in 1956; the state was renamed Karnataka in 1973.
  19. KarnatakaA farmers' protest blocked the Mysuru-Bengaluru highway at the Gananguru toll plaza in Mandya district for about two hours.

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PYQ connections · weekly & monthly tests · past editions

🔁 Today's PYQ connections (4)

India accounts for about one in seven recorded blue whale strandings worldwide
🔁 PYQ CONNECTION · UPSC 2013

Consider the following fauna of India: 1. Gharial 2. Leatherback turtle 3. Swamp deer Which of the above is/are endangered?

India remains the world's largest extractor of groundwater
🔁 PYQ CONNECTION · UPSC 2023

Consider the following statements: Statement-I: According to the United Nations 'World Water Development Report, 2022', India extracts more than a quarter of th…

Pumped storage hydropower: the 'water battery' for renewable power
🔁 PYQ CONNECTION · UPSC 2024

Recently, the term 'pumped-storage hydropower' is actually and appropriately discussed in the context of which one of the following?

Aghanashini-Vedavathi river-linking proposal in focus
🔁 PYQ CONNECTION · UPSC 2016

Recently, linking of which of the following rivers was undertaken?

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