Current Affairs 20 October 2026: Top GK Updates for SSC CGL, CHSL, GD & UPSC

📌Today's Top Current Affairs — One-Liners (SSC & UPSC)

Uttarakhand Governor

डॉ. ढाल सिंह बिसेन ने उत्तराखंड के नए राज्यपाल के रूप में शपथ ली — Dr. Dhal Singh Bisen was sworn in as the new Governor of Uttarakhand in October 2026.

Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar

2024 और 2025 के लिए 106 युवा कलाकारों को उस्ताद बिस्मिल्लाह खान युवा पुरस्कार से सम्मानित किया गया — 106 young artists were conferred the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar for the years 2024 and 2025 in October 2026.

Agri Welfare Portal

केंद्रीय मंत्री शिवराज सिंह चौहान ने किसानों के लिए कृषि कल्याण पोर्टल लॉन्च किया — Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan formally launched the Agri Welfare Portal for farmers.

NPPA Drug Margin Cap

एनपीपीए ने 137 गैर-अनुसूचित कैंसर रोधी दवाओं पर व्यापार मार्जिन अधिकतम 30% तक सीमित किया — The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) capped the trade margin at a maximum of 30% on 137 identified non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs.

Earth Sciences Research Partnership

पृथ्वी विज्ञान मंत्रालय ने पृथ्वी प्रणाली विज्ञान में डॉक्टरेट शोध के लिए AcSIR के साथ साझेदारी की — The Ministry of Earth Sciences partnered with the Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR) to promote doctoral research in Earth System Science.

Akhand Prahar-II Exercise

भारतीय सेना ने राजस्थान के जैसलमेर में अखंड प्रहार-II सैन्य अभ्यास किया — The Indian Army conducted the Akhand Prahar-II military exercise in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.

Asian Para Games Gold

मोना अग्रवाल ने महिलाओं की 10 मीटर एयर राइफल स्टैंडिंग SH1 स्पर्धा में 250.0 अंकों के साथ नया खेल रिकॉर्ड बनाकर स्वर्ण पदक जीता — Mona Agarwal won gold in the women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 event at the Asian Para Games 2026, setting a new games record with 250.0 points.

Asian Para Games Silver

अवनी लेखरा ने महिलाओं की 10 मीटर एयर राइफल स्टैंडिंग SH1 स्पर्धा में रजत पदक जीता — Avani Lekhara won the silver medal in the women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 event at the Asian Para Games 2026.

World Masters Powerlifting

एकता विश्नोई ने नेवादा, अमेरिका में विश्व मास्टर्स क्लासिक एंड इक्विप्ड पावरलिफ्टिंग चैंपियनशिप में 57 किग्रा वर्ग में तीन स्वर्ण पदक जीते — Ekta Vishnoi won three gold medals in the 57 kg category at the World Masters Classic & Equipped Powerlifting Championships held in Nevada, USA.

SCO Council Meeting

अक्टूबर 2026 में शंघाई सहयोग संगठन (SCO) की सरकारों के प्रमुखों की परिषद की 25वीं बैठक दुशांबे, ताजिकिस्तान में हो रही है — In October 2026, the 25th meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is being held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.

Legal Metrology Meeting

अंतर्राष्ट्रीय विधिक मापविज्ञान समिति की 61वीं बैठक पहली बार नई दिल्ली में आयोजित होगी — The 61st meeting of the International Committee of Legal Metrology will be held for the first time in New Delhi.

Renewable Energy Summit

भारत नवीकरणीय ऊर्जा शिखर सम्मेलन और एक्सपो 2026 का पहला संस्करण नवंबर 2026 में भारत मंडपम, नई दिल्ली में होगा — The first edition of the India Renewable Energy Summit and Expo 2026 will be held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, in November 2026.

📌Awards, Appointments and Honours

Today’s current affairs include two important appointment and award updates that are easy scoring points for SSC CGL, SSC CHSL and UPSC exams. Remember the name of the new Uttarakhand Governor and the number of artists honoured with the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar.

• ✓Dr. Dhal Singh Bisen took oath as the Governor of Uttarakhand in October 2026.
• ✓106 young artists received the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar for the years 2024 and 2025.

📌Sports Current Affairs — Asian Games & More

Sports current affairs from 📅 20 October 2026 are dominated by India’s strong show at the Asian Para Games 2026 and a powerlifting achievement in the USA. These facts are frequently asked in SSC GD, SSC CGL and state exam GK sections.

• ✓Mona Agarwal won gold in the women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 event at the Asian Para Games 2026 with a new games record of 250.0 points.
• ✓Avani Lekhara won silver in the same women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 event at the Asian Para Games 2026.
• ✓Ekta Vishnoi won three gold medals in the 57 kg category at the World Masters Classic & Equipped Powerlifting Championships in Nevada, USA.
• ✓Kapil Parmar won bronze in the men’s J1–70 kg para-judo event at the Asian Para Games 2026.

📌Government Schemes, Portals and National News

Government scheme and policy updates are crucial for UPSC prelims and SSC CGL general awareness. Today’s list includes a new farmer portal, a drug pricing decision, a research partnership and two major conferences linked to India.

• ✓Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the Agri Welfare Portal for farmers.
• ✓The NPPA capped the trade margin at a maximum of 30% on 137 identified non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs.
• ✓The Ministry of Earth Sciences partnered with AcSIR to promote doctoral research in Earth System Science.
• ✓The 61st meeting of the International Committee of Legal Metrology will be held for the first time in New Delhi.
• ✓The first India Renewable Energy Summit and Expo 2026 will be held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, in November 2026.

📌How These Can Be Asked in SSC CGL, GD and UPSC Exams

Uttarakhand Governor: Who was sworn in as the Governor of Uttarakhand in October 2026? Trap option: another recent Governor from a different state.

Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar: How many young artists were conferred the award for 2024 and 2025? Trap option: confusing the number with another government award list.

NPPA margin cap: What is the maximum trade margin capped on 137 non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs? Trap option: 20% or 50% instead of 30%.

Akhand Prahar-II: Where did the Indian Army conduct the Akhand Prahar-II exercise? Trap option: another Rajasthan desert location such as Pokhran or Bikaner.

Asian Para Games 2026: Who set a new games record in the women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 event? Trap option: confusing Mona Agarwal with Avani Lekhara, who won silver in the same event.

SCO meeting: Where is the 25th meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of Government being held? Trap option: another Central Asian capital such as Samarkand or Astana.

📌Quick Revision — 10 Facts to Remember

• ✓Dr. Dhal Singh Bisen — new Governor of Uttarakhand.
• ✓106 young artists — Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar for 2024 and 2025.
• ✓Shivraj Singh Chouhan — launched Agri Welfare Portal for farmers.
• ✓NPPA — 30% maximum trade margin on 137 non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs.
• ✓Ministry of Earth Sciences + AcSIR — doctoral research in Earth System Science.
• ✓Indian Army — Akhand Prahar-II exercise in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.
• ✓Mona Agarwal — gold with games record 250.0 in women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1, Asian Para Games 2026.
• ✓Avani Lekhara — silver in women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1, Asian Para Games 2026.
• ✓Ekta Vishnoi — three gold medals in 57 kg at World Masters Powerlifting Championships, Nevada, USA.
• ✓SCO 25th Council of Heads of Government meeting — Dushanbe, Tajikistan.

📌Practice Questions (from today's news)

• ✓Q. Who was sworn in as the Governor of Uttarakhand in October 2026? (a) Dr. Dhal Singh Bisen (b) Avani Lekhara (c) Shivraj Singh Chouhan (d) Kapil Parmar — Answer: (a)
• ✓Q. The NPPA capped the trade margin at what maximum percentage on 137 non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs? (a) 20% (b) 25% (c) 30% (d) 50% — Answer: (c)
• ✓Q. Where did the Indian Army conduct the Akhand Prahar-II military exercise? (a) Jodhpur (b) Jaisalmer (c) Pokhran (d) Bikaner — Answer: (b)
• ✓Q. Who won the gold medal in the women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 event at the Asian Para Games 2026 with a new games record? (a) Avani Lekhara (b) Mona Agarwal (c) Ekta Vishnoi (d) Kapil Parmar — Answer: (b)
• ✓Q. The 25th meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the SCO is being held in which city? (a) Samarkand (b) Astana (c) Dushanbe (d) New Delhi — Answer: (c)