4.5/5
Current Affairs 18th October 2026
Lakes in India and Their States
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Wular Lake — Jammu and Kashmir
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Chilika Lake — Odisha
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Loktak Lake — Manipur
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Dal Lake — Jammu and Kashmir
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Sambhar Lake — Rajasthan
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Pulicat Lake — Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu
1. India Ranks 84th in Henley Passport Index 2026
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India ranks 84th globally, sharing the position with Algeria and Mauritania.
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Singapore ranks first, with access to 193 destinations.
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Compared with the October 2025 ranking, India improved by one position, from 85th to 84th, although its destination-access score decreased from 57 to 55.
2. Sudha Yadav Takes Oath as Karnataka Governor
- Dr. Sudha Yadav took oath as the 20th Governor of Karnataka at Lok Bhavan, Bengaluru.
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She succeeded Thaawarchand Gehlot as Governor of Karnataka.
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She became the second woman Governor of Karnataka, after V. S. Ramadevi, who served from 1999 to 2002.
3. Asiatic Lions Return to Barda Wildlife Sanctuary After 144 Years
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Asiatic lions (Panthera leo persica) have returned to Barda Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat after approximately 144 years, marking an important development in wildlife conservation.
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The sanctuary is emerging as a second home for Asiatic lions beyond the Gir landscape, helping reduce the risks associated with concentrating the population in one geographical area.
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Barda is designated as Satellite Population 8 under Project Lion.
4. Raji Doshi Wins 3M Young Scientist Challenge for Ocean Solution
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Raji Doshi, a 13-year-old Indian-American student from Farmington, Connecticut, USA, won the 2026 3M Young Scientist Challenge.
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She received a cash prize of US$25,000 and the title of “America’s Top Young Scientist.”
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Her award-winning innovation is called ALKACORE, a natural algae-and-aragonite system designed to reduce ocean acidification.
5. Mizoram Farmer Mari ZT Lalrithangi Receives FAO Honour for Strawberry Farming Success
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Mari ZT Lalrithangi, a 35-year-old farmer from Sangau village in Lawngtlai district, Mizoram, was recognised under the FAO 100 Women Heroes in Agrifood Systems and Rural Development Initiative in 2026.
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The recognition was conferred by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) at its headquarters in Rome, Italy, on 15 October 2026, during the World Food Forum.
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She became the first woman from the Mizo community to receive this recognition.
6. Punam Raut Retires from International Cricket Across All Formats
- Indian women's cricket team batter Punam Raut announced her retirement from all formats of international cricket.
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She represented India in 4 Test matches, 73 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and 35 Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is).
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Across all international formats, she scored 3,282 runs, including four centuries.
7. India beat Zimbabwe by four wickets in first T20 International of three-match series
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The Indian women's cricket team defeated Zimbabwe by four wickets in the first T20 International of the three-match series in Raipur, Chhattisgarh.
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Zimbabwe scored 114 runs for five wickets in 20 overs after being asked to bat first.
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India successfully chased the target of 115 runs, scoring 115/6 in 15.4 overs.
8. Reema Nanavaty Receives Hillary Rodham Clinton Award
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Reema Nanavaty, an Indian social worker and Director of the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), received the 2026 Hillary Rodham Clinton Award.
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The award ceremony was held at Gaston Hall, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., USA.
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She was recognised for her contributions to women's economic empowerment, livelihood development, food security and access to renewable energy.
WHAT HAPPENED TODAY
The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty 2026 is observed on 17 October under the theme “United for Peace and Human Rights,” with the focus “Safe Homes for All.”
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