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Nov 10, 2026 Current Affairs

1) NationalHome Minister Inaugurates Rs 1,400 Crore Development Projects in Ahmedabad: Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for urban development projects worth approximately Rs 1,400 crore in Ahmedabad, Gujarat (including Rs 1,024 crore under the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation), featuring the six-lane ISKCON–Sanand Elevated Corridor (Rs 464 crore) and a 200 MLD Water Treatment Plant at Jaspur.Updated NPPA Anti-Cancer Drug Price Cuts Reach Rs 3,540.38 Crore in Annual Savings: As the revised Maximum Retail Prices (MRPs) under the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority's (NPPA) 30% trade margin cap came into effect on 9 November 2026, 85 pharmaceutical companies reported revised prices across 1,364 formulations covering 121 anti-cancer drugs—with 679 brands recording price reductions of over 50% (and a highest cut of 96.45%) to deliver estimated annual consumer savings of Rs 3,540.38 crore.TRAI Releases Port Charges (Third Amendment) Regulations, 2026: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) notified the Telecommunication Interconnection (Port Charges) (Third Amendment) Regulations, 2026 (effective from 1 January 2027), establishing a regulatory ceiling for IP-based interconnection port charges at Rs 5.6 lakh per annum per 1 Gbps IP port and Rs 42.3 lakh per annum per 10 Gbps IP port, alongside a graded financial disincentive capped at Rs 15 lakh per service area, and also released Independent Drive Test (IDT) mobile network quality findings for the New Tinsukia–Guwahati railway route in Assam.Delhi's First Recreational Yamuna River Cruise Service Launched on NW-110: Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal is inaugurating Delhi's first recreational river cruise service on 10 November 2026 at Sonia Vihar, operating along the Sonia Vihar–Jagatpur stretch of the Yamuna River, which is designated as National Waterway-110 (NW-110) under the National Waterways Act, 2016.DPIIT-Recognised Startups Cross 2.62 Lakh on National Entrepreneurship Day: Marking National Entrepreneurship Day (9 November 2026)—which commemorates the establishment of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) on 9 November 2014—official data confirmed that India (the world's third-largest startup ecosystem) now has over 2.62 lakh DPIIT-recognised startups (with a record 55,200+ startups recognised in FY 2025–26 alone) generating over 25 lakh direct jobs.MoSPI Releases Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) 2024–25 Results: According to the Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) FY 2024–25 released by the National Statistical Office (NSO), MoSPI, India's manufacturing corporate sector Gross Value Added (GVA) grew by 9.28%, Net Value Added per factory rose 6.59%, operating factories grew 3.45%, total employment rose 7.57%, and Gross Value of Plant & Machinery rose 7.25%, with five states—Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh—collectively contributing over 54% of India's total manufacturing GVA.NITI Aayog and GIZ India Sign Agreement Under NDC-TIA Phase II: NITI Aayog and Germany's GIZ India signed an implementation agreement under Phase II of the Nationally Determined Contribution – Transport Initiative for Asia (NDC-TIA II, running November 2024 to September 2028) to accelerate road freight decarbonisation and electric heavy-duty truck adoption in India.National Exercise 'VAJRA-SAT' Conducted in Bengaluru Against Foot-and-Mouth Disease: The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) concluded a national simulation exercise named 'VAJRA-SAT' in Bengaluru, Karnataka, with 83 participants from 25 States and 3 UTs to strengthen India's preventive preparedness and FMD-free compartmentalisation against the exotic Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) virus serotype SAT-1 (caused by an Aphthovirus of family Picornaviridae).AISSNG 2026 Concludes at Sainik School Bijapur & President to Confer Swachh Survekshan Awards: Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth and Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi / Navy leadership addressed the closing ceremony of the All India Sainik Schools National Games (AISSNG) 2026 at Sainik School Bijapur, Karnataka, while President Droupadi Murmu is scheduled to confer the Swachh Survekshan Awards 2025–26 (covering 70 mentor cities and 191 mentee cities across 33 States/UTs) at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on 11 November 2026.2) InternationalPM Modi Holds Telephonic Talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a telephone conversation with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy on 9 November 2026, reviewing bilateral cooperation and reiterating India's consistent support for dialogue and diplomacy toward an early and peaceful resolution of the conflict.INS Surat Arrives at Muscat for 15th India–Oman Naval Exercise 'Naseem Al Bahr': The Indian Navy's fourth and final Project 15B Visakhapatnam-class stealth guided-missile destroyer INS Surat arrived at Muscat, Oman, to participate in the 15th edition of the India–Oman bilateral maritime exercise 'Naseem Al Bahr' (Sea Breeze) (8–11 November 2026), followed by a Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT) with the Royal Navy of Oman under India's MAHASAGAR vision.Goa's Palolem Beach Ranked 1st in Asia and 6th Globally in Global Beach Index 2026: Palolem Beach in Canacona, South Goa, was named the No. 1 beach in Asia and ranked 6th in the world in the Global Beach Index 2026 (evaluated across 18 standardised parameters including NASA water clarity data), becoming the only Asian beach to feature in the global top 25.Key Global Political Developments in Israel, New Zealand, and South Africa: Israeli President Isaac Herzog nominated former military chief and Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot (whose party won 21 seats in the Knesset) to form a new coalition government; in New Zealand's November 2026 general election, Qiulae Wong's 'Opportunity' party won 7 seats as a potential kingmaker after neither Christopher Luxon's National Party nor Chris Hipkins' Labour Party secured a clear majority; and in South Africa's local government elections, the African National Congress (ANC) fell to a historic low of around 30% vote share ahead of the Democratic Alliance (25%).3) EconomyRBI Data Shows NBFC Credit Grew 15.4% to Rs 61.69 Lakh Crore: According to Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data, overall credit by Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) expanded by 15.4% year-on-year to Rs 61.69 lakh crore (as of September 2026), led by a 66.1% surge in loans against gold jewellery to Rs 3.74 lakh crore and a 54.4% rise in consumer durables credit to Rs 77,896 crore.PFRDA Revises NPS Scheme Naming and PoP Display Norms Effective 1 December 2026: Through Circular No. PFRDA/2026/52/REG-PF/12, the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) amended the Multiple Scheme Framework (MSF) under the National Pension System (NPS) effective 1 December 2026, mandating a 3-part naming format (Pension Fund Abbreviation + 'NPS' + Unique Scheme Name, with 'Tier II' suffixed only for Tier II schemes and Category codes A to E excluded from names) and requiring third-party Point of Presence (PoP) platforms to display schemes of all Pension Funds within a subscriber-chosen category alongside risk levels.ADB Releases Rs 205.49 Crore First Tranche of USD 108 Million Loan for Mizoram Healthcare Scheme: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) disbursed the first tranche of Rs 205.49 crore out of its USD 108 million loan to support the implementation of the Mizoram Universal Healthcare Scheme (MUHCS).Finance Minister Releases Rs 250 Commemorative Coin for Muthuswami Dikshitar: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman released a Rs 250 commemorative coin (35 grams weight, 44 mm diameter, minted by the India Government Mint, Mumbai) at Swatantrata Bhavan, IIT-BHU, Varanasi, to mark the 250th birth anniversary of legendary Carnatic music trinity composer Muthuswami Dikshitar, while Uttar Pradesh retained the 1st position in India in total number of active GST assessees followed by Maharashtra.4) Date’s Importance (10 November)World Science Day for Peace and Development (10 November 2026): Proclaimed by UNESCO in 2001 (Resolution 31 C/20) following the 1999 World Conference on Science in Budapest (co-organised by UNESCO and the International Council for Science) and celebrated annually around the world on 10 November since 2002 to highlight the role of science in building peaceful, sustainable societies and bridging science with public policy; 2026 Theme: "Common ground through science diplomacy".World Immunization Day (10 November 2026): Observed annually on 10 November to raise global awareness about the critical role of timely vaccination in preventing life-threatening infectious diseases such as polio, measles, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, and hepatitis B (championed in India through the Universal Immunization Programme [UIP] and Mission Indradhanush).World Public Transport Day (10 November 2026): Observed annually on 10 November to promote sustainable urban mass transit systems (metro rail, electric buses, and commuter rail) to reduce vehicular congestion, urban air pollution, and carbon emissions.International Accounting Day (10 November 2026): Celebrated annually on 10 November (first instituted in 1972 in San Diego) to commemorate 10 November 1494, when Italian mathematician and Franciscan friar Luca Pacioli—revered as the "Father of Accounting and Bookkeeping"—published his landmark Venetian treatise Summa de arithmetica, geometria, proportioni et proportionalita, containing the first printed description of double-entry bookkeeping.World Keratoconus Day & World NET Cancer Day (10 November): Observed annually on 10 November to raise medical awareness about Keratoconus (a progressive thinning and cone-shaped bulging of the cornea, sponsored by the National Keratoconus Foundation) and Neuroendocrine Tumours (NETs).178th Birth Anniversary of 'Rashtraguru' Surendranath Banerjee (10 November 1848): Commemorates the birth anniversary of early Indian nationalist leader Sir Surendranath Banerjee (10 November 1848 – 6 August 1925, born in Kolkata), fondly called 'Rashtraguru', who was the second Indian to clear the Indian Civil Service (ICS) exam in 1869, founded the Indian National Association on 26 July 1876 (with Ananda Mohan Bose), edited the newspaper The Bengalee, served twice as President of the Indian National Congress (Poona 1895 and Ahmedabad 1902), and authored the autobiography 'A Nation in Making'.Key Historical Milestones on 10 November: German theologian Martin Luther was born in Eisleben on 10 November 1483; German engineer Gottlieb Daimler unveiled the Daimler Reitwagen (Riding Car)—widely recognised as the world's first internal-combustion petroleum motorcycle—on 10 November 1885; revolutionary freedom fighter Kanailal Dutta was martyred at Alipore Central Jail, Kolkata, on 10 November 1908 (for executing crown witness Narendra Nath Goswami in the Alipore Bomb Case); founding father of the Republic of Türkiye Mustafa Kemal Atatürk passed away in Istanbul on 10 November 1938; birth anniversary of foundational Bharatanatyam scholar Padma Bhushan Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam's guru traditions, revolutionary Dattatraya Balkrishna (Kaka) Kalelkar (1 December 1885 / nationalist tributes), and renowned economist K. N. Raj; death anniversary of 9th Chief Justice of India Justice P. B. Gajendragadkar and iconic trade unionist Datta Samant.5) Person of the DayGurdial Singh Bhangu (1940 – 7 November 2026): Legendary Indian hockey coach and first-ever hockey recipient of the prestigious Dronacharya Award, who passed away in Surrey, Canada, at the age of 86.Architect of India's Historic 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games Gold: Most famously remembered as the Chief Coach of the Indian Senior Women's National Hockey Team that scripted sporting history by winning the Gold Medal at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England—defeating hosts England 3–2 in extra time in the final under captain Suraj Lata Devi—a triumph that inspired the acclaimed Bollywood sports drama 'Chak De! India'.Pioneering Dronacharya Laureate in Indian Hockey (2000): In recognition of his decades of grassroot and national coaching excellence (producing scores of international players at the NIS Patiala and across Indian Railways and Punjab), the Government of India conferred the Dronacharya Award upon Gurdial Singh Bhangu in the year 2000, making him the first hockey coach in Indian history to receive the nation's highest coaching honour.International Titles Across Men's and Women's Coaching: Besides the 2002 CWG Gold, he guided the Indian Women's Hockey Team to victory at the 2004 Women's Hockey Asia Cup in New Delhi and the 2003 Afro-Asian Games, and earlier coached the Indian Junior Men's Hockey Team that won the 1997 Junior Hockey World Cup Silver Medal in Milton Keynes, England.6) SportsZimbabwe Becomes First Team in Test History to Score 500+ Runs in Both Innings of a Test Match: During the drawn 1st Test against Afghanistan played at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, UAE (5–9 November 2026), Zimbabwe scripted 149-year Test cricket history by becoming the first team ever to score 500+ runs in both innings of a Test match—posting 504 in the 1st innings (led by Player of the Match Brendan Taylor's 131 and Brian Bennett's 128) and 523/5 in the 2nd innings (powered by 41-year-old Craig Ervine's maiden Test double century of 206* and Wessly Madhevere's 100* in a record 208 sixth-wicket stand*), while Afghanistan scored 514 in their first innings (Rahmat Shah 173, debutant Rahmanullah Zadran 113, and Sediqullah Atal 105).Magda Linette Defeats Janice Tjen to Win WTA 250 Chennai Open 2026 Singles Title: In the rain- and smog-delayed Women's Singles final played on the reserve day (9 November 2026) at the SDAT Stadium in Nungambakkam, Chennai, Poland's Magda Linette rallied from a set down to defeat defending champion Janice Tjen of Indonesia 5–7, 6–1, 6–4 in 2 hours and 49 minutes to lift the WTA 250 Chennai Open 2026 title (her 4th career WTA singles title).Towhid Hridoy Breaks Bangladesh Record for Highest Individual Test Score (242): Bangladesh batter Towhid Hridoy scored an unbeaten 242 against the West Indies at Sylhet, surpassing Mushfiqur Rahim's 219 to register the highest individual score by a Bangladesh batter in Test cricket history (and becoming only the fourth Bangladeshi to hit a Test double century), while in the Under-19 Men's Asia Cup at Al Amerat, Oman, India's Arjun Rajput scored 107 off 85 balls against Pakistan.7) AwardsHarmanpreet Singh Sweeps Top Player and Top Scorer Awards at Asian Champions Trophy 2026: Following India's 4–1 victory over Japan in the final of the Men's Hockey Asian Champions Trophy 2026 in Mohali, Punjab (completing a hat-trick of consecutive titles in 2023, 2024, and 2026 and a record 6th title overall), Indian captain Harmanpreet Singh was honoured with both the 'Hero Player of the Tournament' Award and the 'Top Goal Scorer of the Tournament' Award.8) Other Important SignificanceEarth Captures 1-Metre Asteroid '2026 QQ8' as a Temporary Mini-Moon Until December 2026: Confirmed by the Minor Planet Center (MPC) using data from the University of Hawaii 2.2-metre telescope and Lowell Discovery Telescope, a 1-to-2-metre natural asteroid designated '2026 QQ8'—first spotted on 20 August 2026 by Hungarian astronomer Krisztián Sárneczky—was gravitationally captured by Earth in April 2026 as a temporary "mini-moon" (approaching within 568,000 km / 0.0038 AU, or 1.5 times the Earth–Moon distance) and will remain bound until December 2026 / early January 2027.Chhattisgarh Selects 'Orange Oakleaf' as Its First Official State Butterfly: Following an online public poll (31 July – 31 August 2026, where it won 51.6% [3,000 of 5,813 votes]) and approval at the 15th meeting of the Chhattisgarh State Wildlife Board, the Orange Oakleaf (Kallima inachus)—also known as the Indian Oakleaf or Dead Leaf butterfly of family Nymphalidae, renowned for its dry-leaf camouflage (crypsis)—was selected as Chhattisgarh's first official State Butterfly, while Karnataka declared the endemic Malabar Tree Frog (Rhacophorus malabaricus) as its official State Amphibian.New Six-Foot Flowering Plant Species 'Disporum kamakhasiense' Discovered in Assam and Meghalaya: Botanists discovered and described (in the journal Novon) a new 180-cm (6-foot) tall perennial herb species of the 'fairy bells' genus named Disporum kamakhasiense (family Colchicaceae)—with its specific epithet combining 'Kamrupa' (Assam) and the 'Khasi Hills' (Meghalaya)—across three sites: Garbhanga Reserve Forest and Laisong (Dima Hasao) in Assam and the Barapani area in Meghalaya.

Nov 9, 2026 Current Affairs

1) NationalPM Celebrates Diwali with CRPF Personnel at Karanpur in Bastar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated Diwali on 8 November 2026 with security forces—including CRPF, CoBRA, BSF, ITBP, SSB, IRB, State Police, and Bastar Fighters (including women commandos)—at the CRPF camp in Karanpur, Bastar district, Chhattisgarh, highlighting that 50 crore citizens have been lifted out of extreme poverty over the past 12 years alongside the decisive end of Left-Wing Extremism (Naxalism).Defence Minister Celebrates Diwali with Troops in Forward Areas of Sikkim: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh celebrated Deepawali with Indian Army troops along the Line of Actual Control in Sikkim, paying tribute to fallen heroes at the Sherathang War Memorial and offering respects at the Baba Harbhajan Singh Memorial near Nathu La.Supreme Court Declares National Book Trust (NBT) a 'State' Under Article 12: Upholding a Delhi High Court verdict and applying the Ajay Hasia case test of pervasive financial, functional, and administrative control, the Supreme Court of India ruled that the National Book Trust (NBT) (established in 1957 under the Ministry of Education) falls within the definition of 'State' under Article 12 of the Constitution of India, making it amenable to writ jurisdiction.Uttarakhand Police Presented President's Colour in Dehradun: Union Home Minister Amit Shah (in the presence of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami) presented the prestigious President's Colour to the Uttarakhand Police in Dehradun, making it the 16th State Police Force in India to receive the honour; Uttarakhand Police (whose strength has doubled from 13,000 to over 26,000 personnel in 25 years and is the first Indian police force to summit Mount Everest) also topped the national CCTNS/ICJS 2.0 Dashboard with a score of 93.46.FSSAI Seizes 3,279.57 Tonnes of Unsafe Food Worth Rs 81.80 Crore: During a nationwide festive-season enforcement drive (1 September to 5 November 2026) inspecting 56,431 food establishments, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) seized 3,279.57 metric tonnes of banned and adulterated food products (including paneer, ghee, milk, and sweets) worth Rs 81.80 crore, cancelled 52 licences, suspended 1,133 licences, sealed 314 establishments, and issued 10,047 improvement notices.Ranivas Mound at Kesariya in Bihar Declared Monument of National Importance: Through a gazette notification issued by the Union Ministry of Culture and signed by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) Director General Yadubir Singh Rawat, the ancient Ranivas Mound at Kesariya in East Champaran district, Bihar (falling under ASI's Patna Circle), was officially declared a Monument of National Importance.Sacred Relics of Shakyamuni Buddha Enshrined at Bomdila After Tawang Exposition: Following a seven-day public exposition at Tawang Monastery (1–7 November 2026) where 31,000 devotees paid homage, the Sacred Relics of Lord Shakyamuni Buddha (Ministry of Culture) were airlifted by the Indian Air Force on 8 November 2026 via Upper Gompa to be enshrined at Bomdila in West Kameng district, Arunachal Pradesh.Manipur Inaugurates North-East India's First AI-Enabled Career Intelligence Hub: Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh inaugurated North-East India's first AI-enabled Career Intelligence Hub at Tamphasana Girls' Higher Secondary School in Imphal, established under the MPLADS (Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme) to provide technology-driven career counselling to students.MANAGE Hyderabad Recognised as Centre of Excellence in Agriculture: The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) officially recognised the National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE), Hyderabad (established in 1987 under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare), as a Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Agriculture for a three-year period to promote agri-entrepreneurship.PM Greets Bharat Ratna L. K. Advani on Entering His 100th Year: Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended greetings and penned a commemorative tribute to Bharat Ratna and former 7th Deputy Prime Minister of India Lal Krishna Advani (born 8 November 1927), who completed 99 years of age and entered his 100th (centenary) year on 8 November 2026.2) InternationalIndian Diplomat Shivani Gupta Elected to UN Budgetary Committee (ACABQ): Indian diplomat Shivani Gupta was elected to the United Nations Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ)—a 21-member subsidiary organ of the UN General Assembly that oversees the UN budget and administrative accountability—for a three-year term from 2027 to 2029, commencing in January 2027.Bay of Bengal Countries Launch 'BOB-NOR' Fisheries Research Network: India (ICAR–Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute [CMFRI], Kochi), Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and the Maldives—coordinated by the Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO), Chennai—launched the Bay of Bengal Network of Ocean and Fisheries Research (BOB-NOR) to build climate-resilient marine fisheries by studying how rising sea temperatures and salinity shifts impact fish migration.India and Canada Hold Inaugural Virtual Defence Dialogue: India and Canada convened their first-ever virtual bilateral Defence Dialogue, co-chaired by Amit Telang (Joint Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, India) and Scott Millar (Director General, International Security Policy, Department of National Defence, Canada) to strengthen Indo-Pacific security exchanges.3) EconomySBI Opens New Branch in Frisco, Texas; Takes US Branch Count to 8: India's largest public sector lender, the State Bank of India (SBI), expanded its international footprint by opening a new branch of its wholly owned subsidiary (State Bank of India [California] / SBIC) in Frisco, North Dallas, Texas—marking SBIC's first branch outside California and raising its US branch network from seven to eight (in addition to SBI's full-service branches in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles).NPPA's Revised Price Cuts on 1,031 Anti-Cancer Formulations Take Effect Today: Effective today (9 November 2026), the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority's (NPPA) 30% trade margin rationalisation across 137 anti-cancer drugs comes into force, lowering the Maximum Retail Prices (MRPs) of 1,031 formulations (including 600+ brands reduced by over 50%) and delivering estimated annual consumer savings of Rs 3,502.31 crore.Tamil Nadu Tops NITI Aayog's India S&T Scoreboard in Research Publications: In the interactive 'India Science and Technology (S&T) Scoreboard' launched in New Delhi by NITI Aayog to benchmark all States and Union Territories across innovation inputs, infrastructure, and research outputs, Tamil Nadu ranked 1st nationwide in research publications.4) Date’s Importance (9 November)National Legal Services Day (9 November 2026): Observed annually across India on 9 November (first instituted by the Supreme Court of India in 1995) to commemorate 9 November 1995, the date on which the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 officially came into force, establishing a nationwide statutory three-tier network—the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) (with the Chief Justice of India as Patron-in-Chief), State Legal Services Authorities (SLSAs), and District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs)—alongside Lok Adalats and the Legal Aid Defense Counsel System (LADCS) to fulfil Article 39A of the Constitution (inserted by the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976) by providing free and competent legal aid to weaker and marginalised sections.26th Uttarakhand Foundation Day / Uttarakhand Diwas (9 November 2026): Celebrated annually on 9 November to mark the formation of Uttarakhand (originally named Uttaranchal until 1 January 2007) on 9 November 2000 as the 27th State of the Republic of India, carved out of the Himalayan districts of northern Uttar Pradesh under the Uttar Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2000 (Capital: Dehradun [Winter] and Bhararisain, Gairsain [Summer]; Governor: Lt Gen Gurmit Singh [Retd]; Chief Minister: Pushkar Singh Dhami).International Week of Science and Peace (9–15 November 2026): Observed annually during the week in which 11 November falls (first observed in 1986 during the International Year of Peace and officially proclaimed by UN General Assembly Resolution 43/61 in December 1988) to promote scientific research and international cooperation for global peace, human rights, and environmental protection.World Adoption Day & World Freedom Day (9 November): 9 November is celebrated internationally as World Adoption Day (founded in 2014 by Hank Fortener to support adoptive families and orphan care) and in the United States/Europe as World Freedom Day, commemorating the Fall of the Berlin Wall on 9 November 1989.Accession of Junagadh Day (9 November 1947): Commemorates 9 November 1947, when the administration of the princely state of Junagadh in Saurashtra was taken over by the Government of India (following the flight of Nawab Mahabat Khanji III to Pakistan and an invitation by Dewan Sir Shah Nawaz Bhutto), later ratified overwhelmingly by a plebiscite in February 1948 in which over 99% voted to join India.Key Historical Milestones on 9 November: The Fall of the Berlin Wall occurred on the night of 9 November 1989, symbolising the end of the Cold War and paving the way for German reunification (1990); Cambodia gained independence from France under King Norodom Sihanouk on 9 November 1953; the Supreme Court of India's 5-Judge Constitution Bench delivered the historic unanimous Ayodhya Ram Janmabhoomi verdict on 9 November 2019, and the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor connecting Dera Baba Nanak (Punjab, India) to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib (Narowal, Pakistan) was inaugurated on 9 November 2019; birth anniversary of poet Sir Muhammad Iqbal (9 November 1877 in Sialkot, composer of 'Saare Jahan Se Accha'), legendary Telugu poet and freedom fighter Garimella Satyanarayana, Padma Vibhushan Carnatic vocalist Madurai Mani Iyer (Death/Birth heritage), and American astronomer and science communicator Carl Sagan (9 November 1934); death anniversary of social reformer and 1958 Bharat Ratna recipient Maharshi Dhondo Keshav Karve (9 November 1962 at age 104, founder of SNDT Women's University in 1916) and 8th Chief Justice of India Justice Harilal Jekisundas Kania (1st CJI of India).5) Person of the DayAnuj Shrivatri (India's Historic 100th Chess Grandmaster & Madhya Pradesh's First GM): 22-year-old International Master from Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, who scripted Indian sporting history on 8 November 2026 by becoming India's 100th Chess Grandmaster (GM)—and the first-ever Grandmaster from the state of Madhya Pradesh.Direct Grandmaster Title Triumph in the Philippines: Competing at the 7th ASEAN+ Individual Open Chess Championship 2026 held in Ozamiz City (Misamis Occidental), Philippines, Anuj Shrivatri bounced back from an opening-round defeat to score an unbeaten 7 points from his final 8 games (7/9 overall), winning the continental championship outright to earn the direct Grandmaster title awarded by FIDE.Journey of Indian Chess from 1st GM (1988) to 100th GM (2026): Anuj Shrivatri's coronation marks a landmark 38-year journey for Indian chess that began when five-time World Champion Viswanathan Anand became India's 1st Grandmaster in 1988; notably, India produced its last five Grandmasters (96th to 100th) within just five months between July and November 2026, following Tamil Nadu's V. S. Rathanvel, who had become India's 99th Grandmaster at the Guwahati Smart City International Open 2026.Self-Trained Rise from Madhya Pradesh: Primarily self-trained throughout his formative chess career in Bhopal before earning his International Master (IM) title, his breakthrough was hailed by All India Chess Federation (AICF) President Nitin Narang as a watershed moment putting Central India (Madhya Pradesh) on the elite global chess map.6) SportsCarlos Alcaraz Defeats Ben Shelton to Win Maiden Paris Masters 2026 Title: Spanish world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz defeated 3rd-seeded American Ben Shelton 7–6(5), 7–5 in a 1-hour-57-minute final on 8 November 2026 to win his first-ever Rolex Paris Masters Men's Singles title, claiming his 9th career ATP Masters 1000 crown and 5th title of the 2026 season (after avenging his US Open quarter-final defeat to Shelton).Vaishnavi Adkar and Rutuja Bhosale Finish Runners-Up at WTA 250 Chennai Open 2026: Having already scripted history as the first all-Indian pair ever to reach a WTA Tour-level doubles final (after upsetting 2nd seeds Weronika Falkowska and Alana Smith 6–2, 2–6, [10–8] in the semi-finals), Vaishnavi Adkar and Rutuja Bhosale finished as Runners-Up (Silver) at the WTA 250 Chennai Open 2026 on 8 November 2026, going down 2–6, 0–6 in the final to Switzerland's Simona Waltert and Naïma Karamoko, while the Women's Singles final between Janice Tjen and Magda Linette was pushed to the reserve day (9 November) due to rain and poor air quality (ahead of the tournament's relocation to Manila in 2027).East Bengal FC Becomes First Indian Club to Reach AFC Women's Champions League Quarter-Finals: East Bengal FC scripted Indian football history by becoming the first-ever Indian club to qualify for the knockout stage (Quarter-Finals) of the AFC Women's Champions League (2026–27), advancing from Group B in Kolkata as one of the best third-placed teams on goal difference behind group winners April 25 SC (North Korea) and Hwacheon KSPO WFC (South Korea).7) AwardsRajasthan Wins National Award Under MNRE's RE-SAF: Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan presented the National Award for Outstanding Performance under the Renewable Energy State Assessment Framework (RE-SAF)—jointly developed by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) and Power Finance Corporation (PFC)—to Rajasthan in New Delhi, recognising its leadership with 51.6 GW of installed renewable energy capacity (including 45 GW of solar power).Filipino Engineer Aldrei Ong Wins 2026 James Dyson Global Sustainability Award: Filipino structural engineer Aldrei Ong (an alumnus of De La Salle University, Manila) won the 2026 James Dyson Global Sustainability Award (carrying a prize of GBP 30,000) for inventing 'Sentinel', a low-cost self-sensing concrete sensor that detects hidden internal structural cracks by measuring changes in electrical resistance after earthquakes.8) Other Important SignificanceIndigenous Anti-Submarine Warfare Craft 'INS Amini' Delivered to Indian Navy: Built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata in partnership with L&T Shipyard at Kattupalli, Tamil Nadu, the indigenous Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC) 'INS Amini' was formally delivered to the Indian Navy, bolstering coastal sub-surface surveillance and anti-submarine operations.Blackbucks to Return to Chhattisgarh's Gomarda Wildlife Sanctuary After 50 Years: Under a scientific wildlife translocation programme approved by the Chhattisgarh State Wildlife Board, 50 Indian Blackbucks (Antilope cervicapra, protected under Schedule I of the Wild Life [Protection] Act, 1972) are being translocated from Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary (where a 2017–18 reintroduction of 77 blackbucks grew past 150) to Gomarda Wildlife Sanctuary in Raigarh and Sarangarh-Bilaigarh districts (notified in 1975), marking the species' return to Gomarda after five decades.2026 Antarctic Ozone Hole Ranks 7th-Largest Since 1978 at 27.1 Million Sq Km: Atmospheric monitoring data revealed that the 2026 Antarctic Ozone Hole peaked at 27.1 million square kilometres—recording its seventh-largest area since satellite records began in 1978—driven by a persistently cold and strong stratospheric polar vortex, while full ozone layer recovery under the 1987 Montreal Protocol remains projected by the 2070s.489-Km Bilaspur–Manali–Leh Rail Line to Feature World's Highest Station at Tanglang La: Engineering blueprints for the strategic 489-km Bilaspur–Manali–Leh broad-gauge railway line (estimated at Rs 1.31 lakh crore, with over 270 km passing through Himalayan tunnels) will feature a railway station at Tanglang La in Ladakh at an altitude of 17,244 feet (5,256 metres), surpassing China's Tanggula station (16,627 feet) on the Qinghai–Tibet railway to become the world's highest railway station.

Nov 8, 2026 Current Affairs

This weekly current affairs compilation covers important national and international developments, economy, banking, government schemes, appointments, awards, sports, science and technology, defence, reports, important days and other examination-oriented facts from November 1 to November 7, 2026.The updates are organised topic-wise for easy reading and revision. Special attention is given to important figures, newly launched initiatives, appointments, rankings, records, organisations and places in news.1. NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRSGovernment, Polity and AdministrationNovember 1 – State Foundation Day: Several Indian states celebrated their foundation days, including Karnataka (Kannada Rajyotsava), Kerala (Keralappiravi), Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.Haryana Foundation Day: Haryana marked the 60th year of its formation in 2026. President Droupadi Murmu attended the Hirak Jayanti celebrations at Kurukshetra.Madhya Pradesh Foundation Day: Madhya Pradesh celebrated its 71st Foundation Day on November 1.Kerala Formation Day: Kerala celebrated its 70th Formation Day on November 1, 2026.Karnataka Rajyotsava: Karnataka celebrated its state formation day on November 1.Rashtriya Ekta Diwas 2026: National Unity Day was observed on October 31, commemorating the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The 2026 observances continued into November 1.Kendriya Grihmantri Dakshata Padak: The award was conferred on 490 police personnel on November 1, recognising excellence in investigation, special operations and related areas.Chandigarh Police received the President's Colour during its Diamond Jubilee Foundation Day celebrations on November 1.President Droupadi Murmu attended the Balidan Shatabdi Samaroh commemorating 100 years of the martyrdom of Swami Shraddhanand at Gurukul, Kurukshetra.National Organ Transplant Games 2026: Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan inaugurated the games at Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi, on November 1.The event brought together approximately 570 transplant recipients and donors, highlighting organ donation and the importance of transplantation.Railways and TransportBengaluru–Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper Express: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw flagged off the new Vande Bharat Sleeper Express on November 1.The train connects SMVT Bengaluru and CSMT Mumbai, improving long-distance railway connectivity between Karnataka and Maharashtra.The route passes through important locations in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.Indian Railways freight loading: Indian Railways registered freight loading of 145.07 million tonnes in October 2026.Operation DEEP: Western Railway's Mumbai Central Division launched a 15-day special intensive ticket-checking drive under the name Operation DEEP on November 4.150 years of Vande Mataram: The Ministry of Railways concluded year-long celebrations marking 150 years of the national song Vande Mataram on November 5.Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reviewed passenger facilities and security arrangements at New Delhi Railway Station on November 6.Multi-Lane Free Flow Tolling: NHAI issued guidelines to standardise the design and infrastructure of Multi-Lane Free Flow tolling systems on four-lane and above national highways.Digital India and TechnologyDigi Yatra: Trials for international passengers holding electronic passports (e-passports) were initiated at seven airports during November 2026.The initiative aims to extend paperless and contactless passenger processing to international air travel.UIDAI: The Unique Identification Authority of India onboarded 300 Offline Verification Seeking Entities (OVSEs) on November 5, expanding the Aadhaar offline verification ecosystem.BHASHINI and SEBI: The Digital India BHASHINI Division and SEBI signed an MoU on November 4 to strengthen multilingual access to investor education and financial information.IndiaAI Mission: Indigenous foundation models EKA-1, Dhīr 2B and Dhīr 5B were highlighted under the IndiaAI Innovation Centre initiative.Defence and SecurityIndian Navy: The Ministry of Defence signed contracts worth approximately ₹53,866.50 crore for the construction of eight next-generation corvettes.Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) will construct five corvettes, while Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) will construct three.The contracts are aimed at strengthening the Indian Navy's maritime security and operational capabilities.Government Initiatives and Public WelfareEPFO 74th Foundation Day: The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation celebrated its 74th Foundation Day on November 1.EPFO introduced WhatsApp-based services to enable members to access important PF-related information.Automatic settlement of eligible Aadhaar-verified inoperative EPF accounts with balances up to ₹1,000 was also introduced.Digital Life Certificate Campaign 5.0: The nationwide campaign commenced on November 1 and will continue until November 30, 2026.The campaign aims to make digital life certificate submission easier for pensioners through face authentication and other digital facilities.Special Campaign 6: Various government departments continued efforts to reduce pending files, improve cleanliness and strengthen administrative efficiency.The Department of Revenue successfully concluded its Special Campaign 6 activities on November 6.Important Appointments and PersonalitiesAir Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit assumed charge as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff on November 1, 2026.He introduced VAYU as the guiding vision of the Indian Air Force, representing Vigilance, Aatmanirbharta, Yukti and Unity of Effort.Dinesh Vitthalrao Ganvir assumed charge as the 55th Director General of the Geological Survey of India (GSI).Air Marshal Mehtab Singh Deswal assumed charge as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Air Command.Justice Rajesh Bindal, former Supreme Court judge, was appointed Chairperson of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT).S. Jaishankar, India's External Affairs Minister, represented India at the 28th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.2. INTERNATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRSInternational Relations and Summits28th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM 2026): The meeting was held in St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda, from November 1 to 4, 2026.The summit brought together representatives of 56 Commonwealth member countries.The theme was "Accelerating Partnerships and Investment for a Prosperous Commonwealth."External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar represented India at the meeting.The discussions focused on climate resilience, international trade, investment, innovation and sustainable development.India–Canada Defence Dialogue: India and Canada conducted their first-ever bilateral Defence Dialogue on November 3, 2026.The dialogue focused on strengthening defence cooperation and improving bilateral strategic relations.India–Guyana cooperation: India extended a US$500 million Line of Credit to Guyana for infrastructure, health and defence-related projects.India and Bhutan: Bhutan's King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck led the consecration of 108 Buddhist stupas at Gelephu Mindfulness City.One of the stupas, Stupa No. 76, was dedicated to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju represented India at the event.India and the International Solar Alliance: The Bahamas became the 116th member of the International Solar Alliance (ISA).The ISA has its headquarters in Gurugram, Haryana, India.India–Sri Lanka–Bangladesh–Maldives cooperation: The four countries launched the Bay of Bengal Network of Ocean Researchers for Fisheries (BOB-NOR) in Kochi on November 5.The initiative aims to strengthen regional fisheries research and cooperation in the Bay of Bengal region.India–Myanmar: India and Myanmar conducted their maiden tri-services Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief exercise, RAHAT MITRA, at Chennai.United Nations and International OrganisationsMINURSO: The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara, known as MINURSO, ended after approximately 35 years.MINURSO was established in 1991 to support the settlement process in Western Sahara.The United Nations Security Council did not renew the mission, and its liquidation process began in November 2026.International Solar Alliance: The Bahamas became its 116th member, strengthening international cooperation in solar energy.Commonwealth: The 28th CHOGM was hosted by Antigua and Barbuda, making it an important international event of the week.COP31: India reiterated its commitment to solution-oriented and equitable climate action at the UN Climate Change Conference COP31, scheduled to be held in Antalya, Türkiye.International DevelopmentsBulgaria: Iliana Iotova won the presidential election runoff on November 1, becoming the country's first elected woman President.United States: The 2026 US midterm elections took place on November 3, attracting international attention.Greenland: Greenland's parliament approved a trilateral Arctic security agreement involving Greenland, Denmark and the United States.Bolivia: The country declared a national emergency to address the impact of the El Niño weather phenomenon.Bhutan: The country attracted international attention with the simultaneous consecration of 108 Buddhist stupas at Gelephu Mindfulness City.Manama Dialogue 2026: Discussions highlighted the growing concerns surrounding maritime insecurity and its impact on international trade and energy transportation.3. ECONOMY AND FINANCEIndian EconomyOctober 2026 GST Collections: India's gross Goods and Services Tax (GST) collection reached ₹2,31,290 crore.GST revenue increased by approximately 22.9% compared with October 2025.Net GST collection after refunds stood at approximately ₹2.03 lakh crore.GST collections from domestic transactions increased by 15.8%, while import-related GST collections increased by 42.2%.The total GST collection during April–October 2026 reached approximately ₹14.77 lakh crore.Additional Tax Devolution: The Union Government released ₹1,09,019 crore to states to support capital expenditure and development activities.The additional release was intended to help states accelerate infrastructure development and welfare-related spending.Passenger Vehicle Sales: India's domestic passenger vehicle wholesales crossed 5 lakh units in October 2026, registering a record monthly performance.The growth was supported by festive-season demand and increased automobile purchases.Commercial LPG Price: The price of the 19-kg commercial LPG cylinder was increased from November 1.Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF): ATF prices were also revised upward from November 1.Coal India Limited: The company celebrated its 51st Foundation Day on November 1.Coal India reported record October production of approximately 67.2 million tonnes and supplies of around 70.3 million tonnes.Power Consumption: India's electricity demand increased substantially in October, reflecting higher industrial and economic activity.Railway Freight: Indian Railways recorded freight loading of 145.07 million tonnes during October 2026.RINL Land E-Auction: The National Land Monetisation Corporation completed the second phase of the RINL land e-auction at Visakhapatnam, generating successful bids worth ₹218 crore.Asset Monetisation: An Inter-Ministerial Group recommended asset monetisation proposals worth more than ₹1,100 crore for further approval.Tax Administration: The National Academy of Direct Taxes Regional Campus, Mumbai, operationalised a CBDT–CAG MoU through a joint capacity-building programme.Important Cabinet DecisionsGrid-Scale Energy Storage Systems: The Union Cabinet approved a ₹14,500 crore Viability Gap Funding Scheme for the development of 92 GWh of grid-scale energy storage systems.The initiative aims to strengthen India's renewable energy infrastructure and improve energy storage capacity.Critical Mineral Processing: The Cabinet approved a ₹2,814 crore Capex Support Scheme to promote the processing of critical minerals, particularly lithium and nickel.The scheme is aimed at strengthening domestic processing capabilities and reducing dependence on foreign supply chains.VISTAR Scheme: The Cabinet approved the Viksit Bharat Initiative for Statistical Transformation, Analytics & Research (VISTAR).The scheme will operate during 2026–27 to 2030–31 and aims to improve India's statistical infrastructure, analytics and research capabilities.Fast Track Special Courts: The Union Cabinet approved the continuation of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Fast Track Special Courts to ensure the speedy disposal of cases involving rape and offences under the POCSO Act.4. BANKING AND FINANCIAL AWARENESSBanking DevelopmentsUPI Transactions – October 2026: Unified Payments Interface recorded a historic 25.47 billion transactions during October 2026.The total transaction value reached approximately ₹31.53 lakh crore.Transaction volume increased by approximately 23% year-on-year, while transaction value increased by around 16%.The average daily UPI transaction volume stood at approximately 822 million transactions.The average daily transaction value crossed ₹1 lakh crore.EPFO WhatsApp Services: EPFO introduced WhatsApp-based services through which members can access their PF balance, passbook and recent transaction details.EPFO Automatic Settlement: Eligible Aadhaar-verified inoperative EPF accounts with balances up to ₹1,000 will be settled automatically.High-Level Committee on Banking: A High-Level Committee on Banking was constituted under former Central Vigilance Commissioner Suresh N. Patel.The committee is associated with examining important issues concerning the banking sector.RBI Financial Inclusion: The Reserve Bank of India's Nagpur office strengthened initiatives relating to financial inclusion and banking awareness.RBI Monetary Policy: The RBI's October monetary policy decision had increased the policy repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.50%.The Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) rate stood at 5.25%, while the Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) rate and Bank Rate stood at 5.75%.The RBI's monetary policy stance was changed to calibrated tightening.SEBI and Capital Market DevelopmentsSEBI's AI Tool – Sudarshan: SEBI strengthened its efforts to identify fraudulent investment-related content circulating on social media through its AI-based tool named Sudarshan.The tool aims to identify misleading investment claims and suspicious financial promotions.Investor Awareness: SEBI expanded multilingual investor education initiatives through its collaboration with the Digital India BHASHINI Division.The partnership aims to make financial information accessible to investors in different Indian languages.Verified Application Badges: Measures were highlighted to strengthen the identification of authentic financial and investment-related applications and reduce online investment fraud.Important Banking Facts for ExamsUPI: Unified Payments Interface.UPI is operated by: National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).NPCI Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra.RBI Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra.SEBI Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra.EPFO: Employees' Provident Fund Organisation.EPFO Administrative Ministry: Ministry of Labour and Employment.SDF: Standing Deposit Facility.MSF: Marginal Standing Facility.Repo Rate: The rate at which the RBI lends money to banks against eligible securities under the applicable framework.5. SPORTS CURRENT AFFAIRSCricketIndia vs New Zealand T20I Series: India defeated New Zealand 3–2 in the five-match T20 International series.The series victory was an important achievement for the Indian men's cricket team.Glenn Maxwell: Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell announced his retirement from international cricket after representing Australia in 286 international matches.BadmintonHylo Open 2026: India won both men's and women's singles titles at the Hylo Open badminton tournament held in Saarbrücken, Germany.Lakshya Sen won the men's singles title by defeating Indonesia's Jonatan Christie.P. V. Sindhu won the women's singles title.The tournament was part of the BWF World Tour Super 500 circuit.Formula OneKimi Antonelli: Italian racing driver Kimi Antonelli became the youngest Formula One World Champion at the age of 20 years and 68 days.He achieved the milestone after finishing third at the Mexico City Grand Prix on November 1.Antonelli broke the previous age record held by Sebastian Vettel.He became Italy's first Formula One World Champion since Alberto Ascari (1953).Max Verstappen won the Mexico City Grand Prix, while Lewis Hamilton finished second.Youth Olympic GamesDakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games: Indian athletes secured medals in multiple sporting disciplines.Dhinidhi Desinghu won a bronze medal in swimming.Khushbu secured a silver medal in judo.Rajkumari Lanchenbi Chanu won bronze in the women's Changquan combined wushu event.The achievement marked India's first-ever medal in wushu at the Youth Olympic Games.ShootingISSF World Championship 2026: India won the men's 50m pistol team gold medal at the championship held in Doha, Qatar.The Indian team consisted of Saurabh Chaudhary, Ravinder Singh and Amanpreet Singh.The team secured a combined score of 1,659 points.Ravinder Singh also won the individual silver medal in the men's 50m pistol event.MotorsportJeet Jhabakh: Indian rally driver Jeet Jhabakh won the 2026 FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship.He created a notable achievement by winning the championship in a two-wheel-drive car.FootballEast Bengal: East Bengal defeated Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City WFC 2–1 in the AFC Women's Champions League.East Bengal became the first Indian club to win more than one group-stage match in the AFC Women's Champions League.BoxingAnkushita Boro: Indian boxer Ankushita Boro won the women's 65 kg gold medal at the 46th International Tammer Boxing Tournament held in Tampere, Finland.She defeated England's Ella Thompstone in the final.ArcheryIndian archers secured four medals at the Swiss Open Archery Tournament held in Lausanne.India's medal tally included three silver medals and one bronze medal.The event featured senior and under-21 categories.6. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGYIndiaAI Mission: Three indigenous artificial intelligence foundation models were highlighted under the IndiaAI Innovation Centre initiative:EKA-1, developed by Soket.Dhīr 2B, developed by ZenteiQ.Dhīr 5B, developed by ZenteiQ.Aditya-L1 Mission: The Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC) payload aboard India's Aditya-L1 mission provided observations showing uneven and asymmetric expansion of a solar eruption.Space Debris Removal: India announced its vision of achieving debris-free space by 2030.The initiative focuses on developing capabilities to monitor, manage and remove space debris.NGC 4490 ULX-8: A scientific study released on November 2 analysed 24 years of X-ray observations of this ultraluminous X-ray source.The study suggested that it is most likely powered by a stellar-mass black hole accreting matter at an extremely high rate.Seismological Observatory: A new seismological observatory was inaugurated at Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir.The observatory will transmit real-time earthquake-related data to the National Centre for Seismology in New Delhi.Jammu and Kashmir has four seismological observatories following the addition of the new facility.7. DEFENCE AND MILITARY EXERCISESPralay Missile: DRDO successfully conducted a flight test of the indigenous quasi-ballistic missile Pralay on November 5.The test was conducted from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast.The missile has been developed indigenously by DRDO laboratories, including the Research Centre Imarat, Hyderabad.INS Sahyadri: The Indian Navy's INS Sahyadri arrived at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, to participate in Exercise Malabar 2026.Exercise Malabar: It is a multilateral naval exercise involving India and other participating Indo-Pacific countries.INS Tarkash: The Indian Navy ship concluded a port call at Port Louis, Mauritius.INS Trishul: The Indian Navy ship made a port call at Souda Bay, Greece.INS Amini: An Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft was delivered to the Indian Navy.India–Myanmar Exercise RAHAT MITRA: India and Myanmar conducted their first tri-services humanitarian assistance and disaster relief exercise at Chennai.Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue 2026: Discussions focused on maritime security, regional cooperation and responsible maritime technologies.India–Canada Defence Dialogue: The first-ever bilateral defence dialogue between India and Canada was conducted virtually.Next Generation Corvettes: The Defence Ministry signed contracts worth ₹53,866.50 crore for eight next-generation corvettes for the Indian Navy.8. ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGYCOP31: India reiterated its commitment to equitable and solution-oriented climate action at the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference.COP31 Host: Antalya, Türkiye.International Solar Alliance: The Bahamas became the 116th member of the International Solar Alliance.Grid-Scale Energy Storage: The government approved a ₹14,500 crore funding scheme for developing 92 GWh of energy storage systems.El Niño: Bolivia declared a national emergency to tackle the impact of El Niño.Coal-Based Power Generation: India's coal-fired electricity generation increased significantly in October amid declining hydropower output and rising electricity demand.National Zoological Park: The National Zoological Park in New Delhi celebrated its 67th Foundation Day on November 1.Watershed Management: A national-level consultation was organised to strengthen science-based watershed management with the participation of relevant agricultural and land-resource institutions.Bharat Renewable Energy Summit 2026: The summit focused on renewable energy development and international cooperation in clean-energy technologies.9. AWARDS AND HONOURSKendriya Grihmantri Dakshata Padak 2026: Awarded to 490 police personnel for outstanding contributions in policing and related areas.President's Colour: Chandigarh Police received the prestigious President's Colour during its Diamond Jubilee Foundation Day celebrations.PM Surya Ghar Excellence Award: The Department of Financial Services received recognition for its leadership in government building solarisation.Wellness Visionary Award: Dr. Padma Gurmet, Director of the National Institute of Sowa-Rigpa, received the Wellness Visionary Award for contributions to holistic healing.National Organ Transplant Games: The 2026 event in New Delhi recognised the contribution of transplant recipients and donors and highlighted the importance of organ donation.International Tammer Boxing Tournament: Indian boxer Ankushita Boro won the women's 65 kg gold medal.ISSF World Championship: The Indian men's 50m pistol team won gold at Doha.10. IMPORTANT DAYS – NOVEMBER 1 TO 7Important observances during the weekNovember 1 – World Vegan Day: Observed to promote veganism, animal welfare and plant-based lifestyles.November 1 – Karnataka Rajyotsava: Celebrates the formation of Karnataka.November 1 – Kerala Piravi: Celebrates the formation of Kerala in 1956.November 1 – Madhya Pradesh Foundation Day: Marks the formation of Madhya Pradesh in 1956.November 1 – Chhattisgarh Foundation Day: Marks the formation of Chhattisgarh in 2000.November 1 – Haryana Foundation Day: Commemorates the formation of Haryana in 1966.November 2 – International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists: Highlights the need to protect journalists and ensure accountability for crimes committed against them.November 5 – World Tsunami Awareness Day: Promotes awareness, preparedness and disaster-risk reduction relating to tsunamis.November 6 – International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict: Highlights the environmental consequences of armed conflicts.November 7 – National Cancer Awareness Day (India): Observed to spread awareness about cancer prevention, early diagnosis and treatment.November 7 – International Day of Medical Physics: Recognises the contribution of medical physicists to healthcare and patient safety.11. IMPORTANT REPORTS, RANKINGS AND INDICESQS World University Rankings: Asia 2027: The rankings were released in November 2026, covering 1,722 universities.University of Hong Kong secured the first position.IIT Delhi emerged as India's highest-ranked institution at 66th position.NITI Aayog: Launched the India Science and Technology Scoreboard for States and Union Territories to assess scientific and technological development across India.India's GST Performance: October 2026 recorded gross GST collections of ₹2.31 lakh crore, indicating strong revenue growth.UPI Performance: October 2026 recorded 25.47 billion transactions, with a total value of ₹31.53 lakh crore.Indian Railways: Freight loading reached 145.07 million tonnes in October 2026.Coal India: Recorded October production of approximately 67.2 million tonnes.12. GOVERNMENT SCHEMES AND INITIATIVES – QUICK REVISIONVISTAR: Viksit Bharat Initiative for Statistical Transformation, Analytics & Research.Period: 2026–27 to 2030–31.Grid-Scale Energy Storage Scheme:Financial support: ₹14,500 crore.Target capacity: 92 GWh.Critical Mineral Processing Scheme:Financial outlay: ₹2,814 crore.Focus minerals: Lithium and Nickel.Digital Life Certificate Campaign 5.0:Period: November 1–30, 2026.Focus: Digital life certificates for pensioners.EPFO Automatic Settlement:Eligible inoperative account balance: Up to ₹1,000.Digi Yatra:International passenger trials started at seven airports.Focus: E-passport-based digital passenger verification.IndiaAI Mission:Indigenous AI models: EKA-1, Dhīr 2B and Dhīr 5B.Space Debris-Free Vision:Target year: 2030.Multi-Lane Free Flow Tolling:Implementing authority: NHAI.Focus: Automated tolling infrastructure on four-lane and above national highways.PM Surya Ghar Excellence Award:Recognised government building solarisation efforts.BOB-NOR:Full form: Bay of Bengal Network of Ocean Researchers for Fisheries.Participating countries: India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Maldives.13. IMPORTANT ONE-LINERS FOR COMPETITIVE EXAMINATIONSThese are particularly useful for last-minute revision for SSC, RRB NTPC, IBPS, SBI and other competitive examinations.Who became the youngest Formula One World Champion in 2026? – Kimi Antonelli.At what age did Kimi Antonelli become F1 World Champion? – 20 years and 68 days.Which country hosted the 28th CHOGM 2026? – Antigua and Barbuda.Who represented India at the 28th CHOGM? – S. Jaishankar.Which country became the 116th member of the International Solar Alliance? – The Bahamas.Where is the headquarters of the International Solar Alliance? – Gurugram, Haryana.Which organisation launched the Sudarshan AI tool? – SEBI.What is the full form of VISTAR? – Viksit Bharat Initiative for Statistical Transformation, Analytics & Research.What is the financial outlay of the Critical Mineral Processing Scheme? – ₹2,814 crore.Which minerals are specifically targeted under the Critical Mineral Processing Scheme? – Lithium and Nickel.What is the approved capacity of the new grid-scale energy storage scheme? – 92 GWh.What is the financial outlay of the grid-scale energy storage scheme? – ₹14,500 crore.Who became the 29th Chief of the Air Staff? – Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit.What is the guiding vision introduced by the new Air Chief? – VAYU.Who became the 55th Director General of the Geological Survey of India? – Dinesh Vitthalrao Ganvir.Which organisation celebrated its 74th Foundation Day on November 1? – EPFO.What is the maximum eligible balance for automatic settlement of inoperative EPF accounts under the new facility? – ₹1,000.Which train was flagged off on November 1, 2026? – Bengaluru–Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper Express.What was India's gross GST collection in October 2026? – ₹2,31,290 crore.What was India's UPI transaction volume in October 2026? – 25.47 billion transactions.What was the total UPI transaction value in October 2026? – ₹31.53 lakh crore.Which organisation operates UPI? – NPCI.Who headed the High-Level Committee on Banking? – Suresh N. Patel.What was India's railway freight loading in October 2026? – 145.07 million tonnes.Which Indian boxer won gold at the 46th International Tammer Boxing Tournament? – Ankushita Boro.Which Indian badminton player won the men's singles title at Hylo Open 2026? – Lakshya Sen.Who won the women's singles title at Hylo Open 2026? – P. V. Sindhu.Which country hosted the 2026 ISSF World Championship? – Qatar.Where was the 2026 ISSF World Championship held? – Doha.Which Indian missile was successfully flight-tested on November 5? – Pralay.From which location was the Pralay missile tested? – Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha.Which Indian mission carries the VELC payload? – Aditya-L1.What is the target year of India's debris-free space vision? – 2030.Where was the new seismological observatory inaugurated? – Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir.Which country became the first elected woman President of Bulgaria's country through the November 2026 election? – Iliana Iotova.Which country declared a national emergency due to El Niño? – Bolivia.Which country hosted the Swiss Open Archery Tournament? – Switzerland.Which Indian club defeated Ho Chi Minh City WFC in the AFC Women's Champions League? – East Bengal.Which Indian athlete won India's first-ever Youth Olympic wushu medal? – Rajkumari Lanchenbi Chanu.What is the name of the first India–Myanmar tri-services HADR exercise? – RAHAT MITRA.Which naval exercise did INS Sahyadri participate in Japan? – Exercise Malabar 2026.Which organisation received the PM Surya Ghar Excellence Award for government building solarisation? – Department of Financial Services.Which state celebrated its 60th Foundation Day in 2026? – Haryana.Which state celebrated its 70th Formation Day on November 1, 2026? – Kerala.Which state celebrated its 71st Foundation Day on November 1, 2026? – Madhya Pradesh.Which country hosted the Bharat Renewable Energy Summit alongside the 9th ISA Assembly? – India.Where was the Bharat Renewable Energy Summit held? – Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.Which country became the youngest Formula One champion's home country in 2026? – Italy (Kimi Antonelli).Which organisation celebrated its 51st Foundation Day on November 1? – Coal India Limited.What was Coal India's October 2026 production? – Approximately 67.2 million tonnes.14. IMPORTANT FACTS TO REMEMBERFor examinations, give additional attention to the following frequently tested facts:Repo Rate: 5.50%.SDF Rate: 5.25%.MSF Rate: 5.75%.Bank Rate: 5.75%.October GST Collection: ₹2.31 lakh crore.October UPI Transactions: 25.47 billion.October UPI Transaction Value: ₹31.53 lakh crore.Grid-Scale Energy Storage Scheme: ₹14,500 crore.Critical Mineral Processing Scheme: ₹2,814 crore.IndiaAI Foundation Models: EKA-1, Dhīr 2B and Dhīr 5B.India's Space Debris-Free Target: 2030.International Solar Alliance Membership: 116 countries.QS Asia University Rankings 2027 – Top Indian Institution: IIT Delhi (66th).Youngest F1 World Champion: Kimi Antonelli.Pralay Missile: Quasi-ballistic missile.EPFO: 74th Foundation Day.Coal India: 51st Foundation Day.National Zoological Park: 67th Foundation Day.