Obituaries are formal announcements of a person’s death, often highlighting their life achievements, contributions, and legacy. For competitive exam aspirants, tracking important obituaries is crucial as it forms a significant part of current affairs—especially in banking, SSC, railways, and other government exams. Questions are frequently asked about notable personalities from diverse fields such as politics, sports, arts, science, and social work. This article provides a structured, month-wise compilation of key obituaries from the last six months.
Important Obituaries of Last 6 Months for Exams 2026
Staying updated with important obituaries helps aspirants connect current events with static knowledge, making it easier to remember facts during exams. Many questions are directly asked about recently deceased personalities, their professions, awards, or key contributions. Preparing this section month-wise not only improves retention but also ensures quick revision before exams. It is especially helpful for scoring in the General Awareness section, where even a single correct answer can make a significant difference in the final merit.
February 2026
This month witnessed the loss of several distinguished personalities from education, sociology, cinema, politics, and literature, leaving behind remarkable legacies.
| Name of the Person | Field |
| Father Thomas V. Kunnunkal | Former CBSE Chairman and Padma Shri awardee |
| André Béteille | Eminent sociologist |
| Hugh Gantzer | Legendary travel writer and Padma Shri awardee |
| Sarla Maheshwari | Veteran Doordarshan news reader |
| James Van Der Beek | Actor (Dawson Leery fame) |
| Joe Simon | Veteran Kannada filmmaker |
| Pravina Deshpande | Veteran actress (Marathi & Hindi films) |
| Robert Duvall | Oscar-winning actor |
| Jesse Jackson | Civil Rights leader and Baptist Minister |
| Frederick Wiseman | Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker |
| Ricky Andrew J. Syngkon | Shillong MP, Voice of the People Party |
| Mani Shankar Mukhopadhyay | Eminent Bengali author |
| Mukul Roy | Veteran political strategist |
| Jatinder Mehra | Steel industry veteran |
| R. Nallakannu | CPI leader and freedom fighter |
| T.K. Oommen | Modern Indian sociology scholar |
| Robert Carradine | Actor (Revenge of the Nerds fame) |
January 2026
January saw the passing of influential figures from sports, politics, environmental science, journalism, and fashion, marking a significant loss across sectors.
| Name of the Person | Field |
| Manoj Kothari | Former World Billiards Champion |
| Suresh Kalmadi | Former Union Minister |
| Dr. Madhav Gadgil | Renowned ecologist |
| Kabindra Purkayastha | Former Union Minister |
| Davinder Singh Garcha | Olympic hockey stalwart |
| Thomas Kuthiravattam | Kerala Congress (M) leader |
| Valentino Garavani | Legendary fashion designer |
| Kirtida Mekani | Environmentalist (“Tree Lady”) |
| Ilyas Pasha | Former Indian footballer |
| Inderjit Singh Bindra | Former BCCI president |
| Sir Mark Tully | Veteran journalist |
| Ajit Pawar | Maharashtra Deputy CM |
| Michael Nobbs | Hockey coach |
December 2025
December recorded the demise of prominent personalities from business, journalism, politics, literature, and arts, each known for their lasting contributions.
| Name of the Person | Field |
| Robin Smith | Former England cricketer |
| Swaraj Kaushal | Former Mizoram Governor |
| Simone Tata | Business leader (Lakme) |
| Frank Gehry | Iconic architect |
| Baba Adhav | Social activist |
| Kalyan Chatterjee | Bengali actor |
| Sophie Kinsella | Author |
| Shivraj Patil | Congress leader |
| Shamanur Shivashankarappa | Congress leader |
| Ram Vilas Das Vedanti | Former BJP MP |
| Prafulla Govinda Baruah | Veteran journalist |
| Peter Arnett | Pulitzer-winning journalist |
| Ram Vanji Sutar | Sculptor (Statue of Unity) |
| Sreenivasan | Malayalam actor & filmmaker |
| Ira Schab | Navy veteran |
November 2025
The month marked the passing of global political leaders, scientists, artists, and cultural icons who made a lasting impact in their respective domains.
| Name of the Person | Field |
| Kim Yong Nam | Former Head of State, North Korea |
| Gopichand Hinduja | Chairman, Hinduja Group |
| Daya Dongre | Marathi actress |
| Sulakshana Pandit | Singer-actor |
| Dick Cheney | Former U.S. Vice President |
| H.Y. Meti | Karnataka politician |
| James D. Watson | Nobel laureate |
| Ande Sri | Telugu poet & lyricist |
| Saalumarada Thimmakka | Environmentalist |
| Kamini Kaushal | Actress |
| V. Rajaraman | Computer science pioneer |
| Arunachalam Vellayan | Industrialist |
| Dharmendra | Bollywood actor |
| Viola Ford Fletcher | Tulsa massacre survivor |
| Udo Kier | German actor |
| Lee Soon Jae | South Korean actor |
| Kumari Kamala | Bharatanatyam dancer |
| Tom Stoppard | Playwright |
October 2025
October witnessed the loss of several legendary figures from politics, cinema, music, science, and public service.
| Name of the Person | Field |
| Dr. G.G. Parikh | Freedom fighter |
| Chhannulal Mishra | Classical vocalist |
| Varinder Singh Ghuman | Actor & bodybuilder |
| T.T. Jagannathan | Industrialist |
| Diane Keaton | Actress |
| Pankaj Dheer | Actor |
| Raavu Balasaraswathi Devi | Singer & actress |
| Raila Odinga | Former Kenyan PM |
| Ravi Naik | Goa CM |
| Kota Srinivasa Rao | Actor & politician |
| Kancha Sherpa | Everest expedition member |
| Tomiichi Murayama | Former Japan PM |
| Govardhan Asrani | Actor |
| Rishabh Tandon | Spiritual figure |
| Piyush Pandey | Adman |
| Yogendra Makwana | Union Minister |
| E.V. Chitnis | Space scientist |
| Queen Sirikit | Thailand royalty |
| Dr. K. Mathangi Ramakrishnan | Surgeon |
| Prunella Scales | Actress |
September 2025
This month saw the demise of influential figures in literature, cinema, journalism, politics, and performing arts.
| Name of the Person | Field |
| Giorgio Armani | Fashion designer |
| Sankarshan Thakur | Journalist |
| Robert Redford | Actor & director |
| Zubeen Garg | Singer |
| Dickie Bird | Cricket umpire |
| Myint Swe | Myanmar President |
| S.L. Bhyrappa | Novelist |
| D.D. Lapang | Meghalaya CM |
| Guru Sarada Hoffman | Bharatanatyam exponent |
August 2025
August marked the passing of notable personalities from politics, sports, cinema, linguistics, and public service.
| Name of the Person | Field |
| Dr. V. Vasanthi Devi | Academician |
| Kalabhavan Navas | Actor |
| Shibu Soren | Tribal leader |
| Satya Pal Malik | Governor |
| Hiromasa Urakawa | Boxer |
| Dr. Vece Paes | Hockey player |
| N. Sreedharan | Linguist |
| La Ganesan | Politician |
| Bob Simpson | Cricketer |
| Terence Stamp | Actor |
| Achyut Potdar | Actor |
| Frank Caprio | Judge |
| Jaswinder Bhalla | Comedian |
| Lord Swraj Paul | Industrialist |
| Sudhakar Reddy | CPI leader |
FAQs
Q1: What are important obituaries in current affairs?
A1: Important obituaries refer to the list of notable personalities who have passed away recently, along with their contributions and fields of work, which are relevant for exams.
Q2: Why are obituaries important for competitive exams?
A2: Questions are frequently asked about recently deceased personalities, their professions, awards, and achievements in exams like SSC, banking, and railways.
Q3: How should I prepare the obituary section effectively?
A3: You should study obituaries month-wise, focus on key personalities, and revise regularly to improve retention before exams.
Q4: Which fields are commonly covered in obituary questions?
A4: Obituaries usually include personalities from politics, sports, cinema, literature, science, and social work.
Q5: How many months of obituaries should I prepare for exams?
A5: Generally, preparing the last 6 months of important obituaries is sufficient for most competitive exams.
Hi, I’m Tripti, a senior content writer at Oliveboard, where I manage blog content along with community engagement across platforms like Telegram and WhatsApp. With 3+ years of experience in content and SEO optimization related to banking exams, I have led content for popular exams like SSC, banking, railway, and state exams.
