Daily Current Affairs for UPSC IAS: 30th Oct 2026

Kittur Fort:

The Karnataka State government will build the Kittur Channamma Freedom Park in the Kittur Fort in the Belagavi district at a cost of ₹40 crore, the Chief Minister said recently.

• Kittur Fort is located in Karnataka.
• It was constructed by Allappa Gowda Sardesai, the fifth ruler of the Kittur dynasty during his rule between 1660 and 1691 AD.
• It became famous as the stronghold of Rani Chennamma, a brave queen who led one of India’s earliest armed rebellions against British rule in 1824, about 33 years before the 1857 revolt.
• Though the British eventually suppressed the uprising, it remains a significant event in India’s struggle for freedom.
• The fort was constructed using black basalt and features Peshwa-Islamic architecture, with a three-storeyed palace inside.
• The fort was equipped with secret water wells, a pole star viewing room, and a large palace hall for royal gatherings.
• A museum within the fort houses weapons, sculptures, and relics from the era of Queen Kittur Chennamma’s rebellion.
• The fort features well-preserved ruins, including the old palace, a watchtower, water cisterns, and ancient temples.

Neoterpnosia mawphlangensis:

A new species of the genus Neoterpnosia (Neoterpnosia mawphlangensis sp. nov.) was recently described from the semi-evergreen forests of Mawphlang Hills, Meghalaya, northeastern India.

• Neoterpnosia mawphlangensis is a new species of cicada.
• It was discovered in forests of Mawphlang in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills.
• It is distinguished by characteristic structures in the male reproductive organs, along with distinctive markings on its transparent wings.
• It is active mainly around dawn and calls from the upper branches and foliage of subtropical pine forests.
• Cicadas are insects belonging to the superfamily Cicadoidea, within the order Hemiptera. They are known for their loud, species-specific calls, produced by males using specialised organs called tymbals.
• They are known for their loud, complex and species-specific acoustic signals or songs.
• They are found worldwide, with the highest diversity occurring in tropical regions.
• The lifespan of cicadas varies depending on the species and whether they are annual or periodical cicadas.
• Male cicadas produce loud calls using specialised organs called tymbals, located on their abdomen, to attract females.

National Startup Awards (NSA 6.0):

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, has launched the 6th Edition of the National Startup Awards (NSA 6.0)

• National Startup Awards is a flagship initiative launched in 2019 under the Startup India initiative to recognise innovation and entrepreneurship and strengthen India’s startup ecosystem.
• It provides a national platform to recognise entrepreneurial excellence and showcase innovative solutions addressing critical challenges across sectors.
• It recognises startups demonstrating outstanding performance in innovation, scalability, sustainability and socio-economic impact.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Commerce and Industry

National Startup Awards 6.0:

• NSA 6.0 edition aims to encourage participation from startups across States and Union Territories, including emerging entrepreneurial ecosystems in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.
• It will recognise innovation, entrepreneurship and excellence across 20 sectoral categories and three special award categories,
• This edition introduces 12 new sectoral categories:
  • Biomanufacturing; Consumer Industries; Defence & Security; Rural Economy, Traditional Industries & Livelihoods; Education & Skilling; Electronics, Semiconductors & Advanced Manufacturing; Sports, Fitness & Sports-Tech; Future Mobility & Automotive; Ocean & Blue Economy; Space-Tech, Drones & Aerospace; Telecom, Connectivity & Digital Infrastructure; and Travel, Tourism & Hospitality.
• The three special award categories are:
  • Women-Led Startups
  • Startups from the North-Eastern Region
  • Student Innovator / Aspiring Entrepreneur
• Award Money:
  • Winning startups across the 20 sectoral categories and the two startup-focused special categories will be eligible for a cash prize of ₹25 lakh per category.
  • The Student Innovator / Aspiring Entrepreneur Award will carry a total prize pool of ₹25 lakh across four sub-categories.
  • In addition this award seeks to facilitate mentorship, investor engagement, market access, industry partnerships and enhanced visibility within India’s startup ecosystem.

Exercise Garuda Shakti 2026: 11th Edition

The 11th edition of the India-Indonesia joint special forces Exercise Garuda Shakti has commenced at Banyuwangi, Indonesia.

• Exercise Garuda Shakti is the joint Special Forces exercise conducted between India– Indonesia.
• The Indian contingent comprises troops from the Parachute Regiment (Special Forces).
• The exercise aims to strengthen mutual understanding, cooperation and interoperability between the Special Forces of the two nations.
• It focuses on tactics, techniques and procedures for special operations in jungle environments, including obstacle crossing, combat marksmanship, mountaineering, air assault training and combat-hardening sessions.
• It also includes the exchange of expertise and information on weapons, equipment and operational practices.
• The joint training will culminate with a validation exercise designed to simulate realistic operational scenarios and assess the endurance, coordination and combat readiness of both contingents.
• It will further strengthen defence cooperation and bilateral relations between India and Indonesia.

Allocaecilius Nilgiriensis:

Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India have discovered and described a new insect species and named it as Allocaecilius nilgiriensis.

• Allocaecilius Nilgiriensis is a new barklice species, discovered in Nilgiri Hills.
• It is only the second time a member of this unique barklouse genus has ever been recorded in the country. It brings the total number of known Allocaecilius species worldwide to thirteen.
• It is found across the lush landscapes of the Southern Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu and Keralam.
• These tiny barklice are specialised inhabitants restricted to the damp, shaded canopies and understories of high-altitude shola and evergreen rainforests in the southern Western Ghats.
• Barklice are a vital microscopic clean-up crew, grazing harmlessly on the surface of tree bark, feeding on mould, fungi, algae, lichens, and dead organic debris
• It has distinctive brown patches located in specific distal of its forewings, alongside specialised thumb-like structures on the male’s lower abdomen (hypandrium) and a deeply indented subgenital plate in females.

International Convention against Doping:

Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports chaired the third formal meeting of the COP10 Bureau and the fourth formal meeting of the Fund’s Approval Committee for 2026–27 under the UNESCO International Convention against Doping in Sport in New Delhi.

• International Convention against Doping is a UNESCO multilateral treaty by which States agree to adopt national and international measures to prevent and eliminate doping in sport.
• The Convention was adopted during the 33rd session of UNESCO’s General Conference (19 October 2005) and entered into force on 1 February 2007.
• It is the only legally binding international instrument committed to promoting integrity and eliminating doping in sport globally.
• It consists of 192 States Parties, making it UNESCO’s second most ratified treaty.
• India is a signatory to the International Convention Against Doping in Sport.
• The Convention aims to harmonize anti-doping legislation, guidelines, regulations, and rules internationally in order to provide a level and safe playing environment for all athletes.
• The Conference of Parties (COP) is the sovereign body of the Convention, meeting in ordinary session biennially.
• It has overall responsibility for its implementation and evolution.
• Features of International Convention against Doping in Sport:
  • The convention allows governments to formally recognize the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the Code.
  • It works under a positive implementation approach, providing guidance, financial support, skill-training and capacity-building to empower States Parties aiming to enhance their implementation of the Convention.
  • It also provides a global forum for public and private stakeholders of the sport integrity ecosystem.
• Funding mechanism: Anti-Doping Fund was formed to create awareness about doping.

Orange Oakleaf Butterfly:

Chhattisgarh is set to get its first official state butterfly, with the Orange Oakleaf (Kallima inachus) emerging as the winner of a public online poll.

• Orange Oakleaf Butterfly is a nymphalid butterfly found in Tropical Asia from India to Japan.
• It is known for its remarkable camouflage. With its wings folded, it closely resembles a dry, withered leaf. When it spreads its wings, it reveals bright orange, jet-black and deep velvety blue colours.
• It is commonly found in subtropical and temperate forest zones, especially in areas with dense undergrowth and ample leaf litter.
• It thrives in altitudes ranging from 500 to 2000 meters and is often spotted near riverbanks, shaded forest trails, and damp patches where it feeds on fermenting fruit and tree sap.
• It is also known to mud-puddle.
• Unlike many butterflies, the Orange Oakleaf is not drawn to flowers. Instead, it is attracted to rotting fruit and tree sap.
• It acts as a pollinator and its presence also signifies healthy forest habitats, as it relies on dense vegetation and leaf litter for survival.