The International Day of the Snow Leopard is observed globally on 23 October to strengthen multilateral conservation efforts for the high-altitude predator. Formally proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly, the day commemorates the 2013 Bishkek Declaration signed by 12 range countries. In India, which is home to 718 snow leopards, Ladakh hosts the largest population with 477 individuals.
Q1. Who has been appointed as the next Chairman of the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) with effect from December 2026?
Answer: (B) Sunil Kumar — Sunil Kumar has been named as the new Chairman of ONGC, succeeding Arun Kumar Singh for a three-year term.
Q2. Whom did Subhas Chandra Lal Das succeed upon being appointed as the Part-Time Chairman of FSIB?
Answer: (C) Bhanu Pratap Sharma — Subhas Chandra Lal Das was appointed as the Part-Time Chairman of the Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB), succeeding Bhanu Pratap Sharma.
Q3. Regarding the newly added Indian sites to the UNESCO Tentative List, consider the following statements:
1. The inclusion increases India's tentative list count to 81.
2. Barren Island is listed under cultural heritage.
3. Sirpur Cultural Landscape is located in Chhattisgarh along the Mahanadi River.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
Answer: (C) Only 1 and 3 — Statement 2 is incorrect because the Andaman Subduction Volcanoes (including Barren Island) are listed as Natural sites, not Cultural.
Q4. Which international entity was honored with the European Union's 2026 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought?
Answer: (B) International Criminal Court (ICC) — The European Parliament conferred the 2026 Sakharov Prize on the International Criminal Court (ICC) and its officials.
Q5. By which year have India and Poland agreed to double their bilateral trade during Prime Minister Donald Tusk's official visit?
Answer: (C) 2030 — During Donald Tusk's visit to New Delhi, both India and Poland committed to doubling their bilateral trade by the year 2030.
Q6. Which financial institution fully subscribed the ₹4 crore Zero Coupon Zero Principal (ZCZP) issue launched by NSDC on the Social Stock Exchange?
Answer: (B) NABARD — NABARD fully subscribed to the ₹4 crore ZCZP instrument issued by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC).
Q7. Where in New Delhi will the Parliament of India host the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum?
Answer: (C) Samvidhan Sadan — The Parliament of India will host the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum at the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan, New Delhi.
Q8. Which Indian Coast Guard Ship accompanied INS Tir and INS Sujata to Malé as part of the First Training Squadron deployment?
Answer: (B) ICGS Sarathi — ICGS Sarathi accompanied naval vessels INS Tir and INS Sujata as part of the 1TS Long Range Training Deployment to the Maldives.
Q9. What is the scientific name of the snow leopard, commemorated on International Snow Leopard Day?
Answer: (C) Panthera uncia — The scientific name of the snow leopard is Panthera uncia, listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
