In short: Today’s Prelims current affairs cover NSDC’s first Zero Coupon Zero Principal issue on the NSE Social Stock Exchange, Kashi Tamil Sangamam 5.0, the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum and more, with static links, a quick revision table and practice MCQs.
NSDC Debuts on NSE Social Stock Exchange with ZCZP Issue
Why in news: The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) listed on the Social Stock Exchange (SSE) platform of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) on 22 October 2026, with its maiden issue of Zero Coupon Zero Principal (ZCZP) instruments. NABARD subscribed Rs 4 crore.
- About the project: A Rs 11.25 crore programme to prepare 600 youth from economically weaker OBC households in Madhya Pradesh for jobs in Japan and Germany, with language training.
- Blended finance: 15% from beneficiaries, 35% raised on the SSE, and 50% paid by the Madhya Pradesh government only after successful international placement.
- Outcome link: The State payment works under a bilateral Social Impact Bond framework between NSDC and Madhya Pradesh.
- ZCZP: Lets social-purpose organisations raise funds with no interest and no repayment of principal, backed by reporting of social outcomes.
Source: PIB (Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship) · GS Paper 3 / Economy
Prelims angle: A ZCZP instrument pays neither interest nor principal back to the investor, so it works like a donation routed through the exchange. Do not confuse it with a zero-coupon bond, which repays principal at maturity.
Kashi Tamil Sangamam 5.0: Theme “Thirukkural Payilvom”
Why in news: Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi launched the registration portal for the fifth edition of Kashi Tamil Sangamam (KTS 5.0) on 22 October 2026. It will be held from 28 November to 12 December 2026.
- Theme: “Thirukkural Payilvom – Thirukkural Abhyas Karen”, taking the ethical teachings of the classical Tamil text Thirukkural to young learners.
- Organiser: Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, with IIT Madras, Banaras Hindu University and the Central Institute of Classical Tamil (CICT), Chennai.
- Scale: About 1,400 participants from Tamil Nadu in seven groups visit Varanasi, Prayagraj and Ayodhya; a students’ programme will run in 1,000 higher education institutions.
- Background: The first edition was held in 2022, under the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat.
Source: PIB (Ministry of Education) · GS Paper 1 / Art and Culture
Prelims angle: The Thirukkural is attributed to Thiruvalluvar. KTS is organised by the Ministry of Education, not the Ministry of Culture, and its portal is hosted by IIT Madras.
12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in New Delhi
Why in news: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla announced on 22 October 2026 that Parliament will host the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum on 26-27 October 2026 in the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan, under India’s BRICS chairship.
- Theme: “Strengthening Parliaments for People-Centric Development”.
- Sessions: Resilience, Innovation (human-centred AI and digital technologies), Cooperation (representative global governance) and Sustainability.
- Participants: Presiding officers and delegations of 11 BRICS member countries and 10 partner countries.
- Also: A special meeting of chairpersons of International Affairs Committees on parliamentary diplomacy.
Source: PIB (Lok Sabha Secretariat) · GS Paper 2 / International Relations
Prelims angle: The forum is hosted by Parliament, with the Lok Sabha Speaker leading, not by the Ministry of External Affairs. Note the venue: the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan, the old Parliament building.
Khet Bachao Abhiyan: Campaign for Balanced Fertiliser Use
Why in news: Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the nationwide Khet Bachao Abhiyan from Taraori in Karnal, Haryana, on 22 October 2026. It runs until 30 November 2026.
- Aim: Curb the unbalanced use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides and protect soil health.
- Method: Scientists will visit villages, with farmers joining through Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and agricultural institutions; farmers are urged to check Soil Health Cards before applying fertiliser.
- Practices promoted: Need-based use of urea and DAP, crop rotation, no stubble burning, and natural farming inputs such as Beejamrit and Ghanjeevamrit.
- Same event: Rs 1,343.06 crore approved for 28,422 houses in Haryana under PMAY-Gramin.
Source: PIB (Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare) · GS Paper 3 / Agriculture
Prelims angle: Beejamrit (seed treatment) and Ghanjeevamrit (solid microbial manure) are natural farming inputs. The Soil Health Card tells a farmer the nutrient status of the soil and the fertiliser dose to use.
Indian Navy’s First Training Squadron Visits Maldives
Why in news: Ships of the Indian Navy’s First Training Squadron (1TS), INS Tir and INS Sujata, with Indian Coast Guard Ship Sarathi, arrived off Malé on 21 October 2026 on a Long Range Training Deployment.
- Host: Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF); trainees visited the Girifushi Training Centre.
- Purpose: Training exchanges, cross-deck visits and greater interoperability between the Indian Navy and MNDF.
- Policy link: In line with India’s MAHASAGAR vision (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions).
- Read more: MAHASAGAR Vision and India’s SAGAR Doctrine.
Source: PIB (Ministry of Defence) · GS Paper 2 / International Relations
Prelims angle: A Coast Guard ship (ICGS Sarathi) sailed with the Navy’s training ships. MAHASAGAR builds on the earlier SAGAR doctrine, so learn the full form of both.
Quick Revision Table
| Item | Key fact to remember | Subject |
|---|---|---|
| NSDC on SSE | First ZCZP issue; NABARD Rs 4 crore; 600 MP youth for Japan and Germany | Economy |
| Kashi Tamil Sangamam 5.0 | 28 Nov-12 Dec 2026; Thirukkural theme; first edition 2022 | Culture |
| 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum | 26-27 Oct 2026, Samvidhan Sadan; 11 members + 10 partners | IR |
| Khet Bachao Abhiyan | 22 Oct-30 Nov 2026; launched at Taraori, Karnal | Agriculture |
| First Training Squadron in Maldives | INS Tir, INS Sujata, ICGS Sarathi at Malé; MAHASAGAR | IR / Defence |
Practice MCQs
Q1. With reference to Zero Coupon Zero Principal (ZCZP) instruments, consider the following statements:
1. They are issued on the Social Stock Exchange segment.
2. Investors receive their principal back at maturity, but no interest.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer
Answer: (a) Statement 1 is correct: NSDC issued ZCZP instruments on the NSE’s Social Stock Exchange. Statement 2 is wrong: ZCZP instruments repay neither interest nor principal; a zero-coupon bond is the one that repays principal.
Q2. The theme of Kashi Tamil Sangamam 5.0 is centred on which classical Tamil text?
- Silappatikaram
- Thirukkural
- Manimekalai
- Tolkappiyam
Show answer
Answer: (b) KTS 5.0 has the theme “Thirukkural Payilvom – Thirukkural Abhyas Karen”. Silappatikaram and Manimekalai are epics and Tolkappiyam is a grammar, so none of them is the theme of this edition.
Q3. The 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum, held in October 2026, will meet in:
- Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
- Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan, New Delhi
- Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, New Delhi
- Yashobhoomi, New Delhi
Show answer
Answer: (b) The Lok Sabha Speaker announced that the Forum would be held in the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan on 26-27 October 2026. The other venues are convention or government buildings not named for this event.
Q4. “Beejamrit” and “Ghanjeevamrit”, mentioned during the launch of Khet Bachao Abhiyan, are:
- Varieties of bio-fortified wheat
- Natural farming inputs
- Soil testing kits
- Drone spraying systems
Show answer
Answer: (b) Both are natural farming inputs promoted to cut costs and raise yields. They are not crop varieties, testing kits or drones.
Q5. Consider the following ships:
1. INS Tir
2. INS Sujata
3. ICGS Sarathi
Which of the above were part of the First Training Squadron deployment to the Maldives in October 2026?
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: (d) All three ships arrived off Malé on 21 October 2026: INS Tir and INS Sujata of the Navy, and ICGS Sarathi of the Coast Guard. So options a, b and c each leave out one of them.
FAQs
What are the important Prelims current affairs of 22 October 2026?
The key Prelims topics of 22 October 2026 are NSDC’s debut on the NSE Social Stock Exchange, Kashi Tamil Sangamam 5.0, the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum, the Khet Bachao Abhiyan and the First Training Squadron’s visit to the Maldives.
What is a Zero Coupon Zero Principal instrument?
A Zero Coupon Zero Principal instrument is a fund-raising tool on the Social Stock Exchange that pays the investor no interest and returns no principal, with the money used for verified social outcomes.
What is the theme of Kashi Tamil Sangamam 5.0?
The theme of Kashi Tamil Sangamam 5.0, to be held from 28 November to 12 December 2026, is “Thirukkural Payilvom – Thirukkural Abhyas Karen”, focused on the teachings of the Thirukkural.
What is the Khet Bachao Abhiyan?
The Khet Bachao Abhiyan is a nationwide campaign of the Agriculture Ministry, running from 22 October to 30 November 2026, to promote balanced fertiliser use, soil health and natural farming.
हिंदी सारांश
22 अक्टूबर 2026 के प्रारंभिक परीक्षा करंट अफेयर्स में पांच विषय हैं। NSDC ने NSE के सोशल स्टॉक एक्सचेंज पर पहला ज़ीरो कूपन ज़ीरो प्रिंसिपल (ZCZP) इश्यू जारी किया, जिसमें NABARD ने 4 करोड़ रुपये लगाए। काशी तमिल संगमम 5.0 का आयोजन 28 नवंबर से 12 दिसंबर 2026 तक तिरुक्कुरल की थीम पर होगा। 12वां ब्रिक्स संसदीय मंच 26-27 अक्टूबर को संविधान सदन के सेंट्रल हॉल में होगा। कृषि मंत्री ने करनाल के तरावड़ी से खेत बचाओ अभियान शुरू किया, जो 30 नवंबर तक चलेगा। भारतीय नौसेना का प्रथम प्रशिक्षण स्क्वाड्रन महासागर दृष्टि के तहत मालदीव पहुंचा।
Sources: PIB: NSDC on NSE Social Stock Exchange; PIB: Kashi Tamil Sangamam 5.0; PIB: 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum; PIB: Khet Bachao Abhiyan; PIB: First Training Squadron in Maldives.
Related reading on GSMitra: Prelims Current Affairs 21 October 2026, MAHASAGAR Vision and India’s SAGAR Doctrine, Pradhan Mantri Samajik Sahayata Yojana (NSAP).
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