1) National
PM Approves 1,500-Km Northern Bullet Train Corridor: Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the Northern Bullet Train Corridor, an approximately 1,500-km high-speed rail link connecting Delhi to Guwahati via Siliguri across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and Assam (covering Delhi, Agra, Kanpur, Lucknow, Ayodhya, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Patna, Siliguri, and Guwahati), designed to cut travel time between Delhi and Guwahati to under 8 hours (and Delhi to Siliguri from 20 hours to 6 hours).
Vice-President Inaugurates National Organ Transplant Games 2026: Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan inaugurated the National Organ Transplant Games (NOTG) 2026 at Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi, released the 'Zindagi Dobara' Calendar, felicitated winners of the World Transplant Games 2025 (Dresden, Germany), and witnessed a World Record set by 570 organ transplant recipients and donors performing Tadasana simultaneously.
Dinesh V. Ganvir Takes Charge as 55th DG of Geological Survey of India: Senior geologist Dinesh Vitthalrao Ganvir (who joined GSI in 1994 and previously served as National Mission Head-II) assumed charge as the 55th Director General of the Geological Survey of India (GSI) (founded in 1851 under the Ministry of Mines, headquartered in Kolkata), after spearheading the handover of 359 Geological Reports including 202 critical mineral blocks.
EPFO Celebrates 74th Foundation Day with New Digital Services: The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) (Ministry of Labour and Employment) celebrated its 74th Foundation Day on 1 November 2026 in New Delhi, rolling out automatic settlement for eligible inoperative EPF accounts and expanded WhatsApp-based subscriber services.
Manoj Govil Assigned Additional Charge in Cabinet Secretariat: Senior IAS officer Manoj Govil (Secretary, Coordination, Cabinet Secretariat) was assigned the additional charge of Secretary, Transport & Logistics Planning in the Cabinet Secretariat.
Varanasi–New Delhi & Yesvantpur–Madgaon Vande Bharat Express Trains: Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath flagged off the 16-coach Varanasi–New Delhi Vande Bharat Sleeper Express (covering 760 km in 9 hours 30 minutes via Kanpur Central), while the Railway Board approved the BEML-built Yesvantpur–Madgaon Vande Bharat Express via Mangaluru Junction.
MeitY Unveils DEPA Handbook for AI Training: Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) Secretary S. Krishnan unveiled the Data Empowerment and Protection Architecture (DEPA) Handbook for AI Training in Bengaluru, developed with the support of the iSPIRT Foundation.
Ministry of Coal Hosts Star Rating Awards Ceremony in Raipur: Union Minister of Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy (alongside Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai) is conferring the Star Rating Awards in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, on 2 November 2026 to felicitate India's top-performing coal and lignite mines assessed by the Coal Controller's Organisation (CCO).
President Graces Balidan Shatabdi Samaroh of Swami Shraddhanand Ji: President Droupadi Murmu addressed the Balidan Shatabdi Samaroh (centenary of martyrdom) of Arya Samaj educationist and freedom fighter Swami Shraddhanand Ji at Gurukul Kurukshetra, Haryana, after hoisting the ceremonial flag at Ramtirtha, Nashik, to formally launch the Nashik–Trimbakeshwar Simhastha Kumbh Mela (continuing until July 2028).
Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh Visits Sikkim: Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh (Lalan Singh) is visiting Gangtok and Mangan districts in Sikkim on 2 November 2026 to review livestock, dairy, and organic cold-water fisheries schemes.
2) International
INS Trishul Calls at Souda Bay, Greece: During its ongoing deployment to the Mediterranean Sea, the Indian Navy's Talwar-class stealth guided-missile frigate INS Trishul arrived at Souda Bay, Greece, to engage in professional naval interactions and strengthen bilateral maritime interoperability with the Hellenic Navy.
4th Summer Youth Olympic Games (Dakar 2026) Underway in Senegal: The 2026 Summer Youth Olympic Games (31 October – 13 November 2026) has commenced in Dakar, Senegal—marking the first-ever Olympic sporting event hosted on the African continent—where India has fielded a 17-member contingent (11 women and 6 men) across 11 sports led by Chef de Mission and Olympian shot putter Om Prakash Singh Karhana, featuring Paris 2024 Olympian swimmer Dhinidhi Desinghu, shuttler Tanvi Patri, paddler Syndrela Das, and 14-year-old windsurfer Priyanshi Patil (youngest Indian in the squad).
IEA Quarterly Report Highlights India's Grid-Scale Solar Expansion: The International Energy Agency (IEA) (headquartered in Paris, France) recognised India in its latest quarterly clean energy transition tracking report as a leading emerging economy accelerating grid-scale solar photovoltaic integration.
India Flags Politicisation of UNHRC: Speaking at the United Nations, India cautioned against selective targeting and politicisation at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), stating that the Council's global credibility rests on impartiality, objectivity, and non-selectivity.
3) Economy
October 2026 Gross GST Collections Surge 22.9% to Rs 2.31 Lakh Crore: India's provisional gross Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections jumped 22.9% year-on-year to Rs 2,31,290 crore (Rs 2.31 lakh crore) in October 2026 (up from Rs 1,88,125 crore in October 2025), marking the fastest monthly growth rate in over four years, driven by a 42.2% surge in GST from imports (Rs 72,246 crore) and a 15.8% rise in domestic GST revenue (Rs 1,59,044 crore); after accounting for Rs 27,934 crore in refunds (+6.5%), net GST revenue rose 25.6% to Rs 2.03 lakh crore.
Centre Releases Rs 1,09,019 Crore Additional Tax Devolution to States: The Union Government (Ministry of Finance) released an additional instalment of tax devolution amounting to Rs 1,09,019 crore to State Governments to accelerate capital expenditure, infrastructure development, and festive-season welfare spending.
RBI Expands Unified Lending Interface (ULI) for Rural and Agri Credit: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) expanded the operational scope of its digital public infrastructure platform, the Unified Lending Interface (ULI), to enable frictionless, consent-based digital credit delivery for small and marginal farmers and rural micro-entrepreneurs.
India's Coal Imports Decline by 5.83%: Reflecting higher domestic coal output and reduced import substitution, the Ministry of Coal reported a 5.83% decline in India's coal imports, bolstering domestic energy self-reliance.
4) Date’s Importance (2 November)
International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists (2 November 2026): Observed annually on 2 November (proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly via Resolution A/RES/68/163 on 18 December 2013 and coordinated by UNESCO under the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists) to commemorate the assassination of two French RFI journalists, Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verlon, in Kidal, Mali on 2 November 2013 and uphold Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; 2026 Global Theme: "Threats Evolve. Impunity Endures.", highlighting new technological, drone, and digital threats while nearly 6 out of 7 journalist killings globally (over 1,600 between 2006 and 2025) remain judicially unresolved.
Indian Arrival Day in Mauritius (2 November): Observed annually as a public holiday in Mauritius on 2 November to commemorate 2 November 1834, when the ship Atlas docked at Port Louis (Aapravasi Ghat, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site) carrying the first batch of 36 Indian indentured labourers ("Girmitiyas") from India, whose descendants today form around 70% of Mauritius's population.
All Souls' Day (2 November): Observed annually on 2 November across Christian traditions worldwide (and celebrated in Mexico and Latin America as Día de los Muertos / Day of the Dead, inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity) to honour and remember departed souls.
World Ballet Day & Dynamic Harmlessness Day (2 November): 2 November is celebrated globally as Dynamic Harmlessness Day (referencing Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy of active Ahimsa, commemorating the birth anniversary of American vegan pioneer H. Jay Dinshah on 2 November 1933).
Key Historical Milestones on 2 November: North Dakota and South Dakota were admitted as the 39th and 40th US states on 2 November 1889; British Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour issued the Balfour Declaration on 2 November 1917; the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) launched the world's first regular high-definition television service from Alexandra Palace, London on 2 November 1936; aviation pioneer Howard Hughes flew the Hughes H-4 Hercules ("Spruce Goose")—the largest flying boat ever built—on its sole flight in California on 2 November 1947; the Morris Worm—the first computer worm distributed via the Internet—was launched by Robert Tappan Morris from MIT on 2 November 1988; Expedition 1 (Commander William Shepherd with Yuri Gidzenko and Sergei Krikalev) arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) on 2 November 2000, beginning 26 years of uninterrupted human presence in space; birth anniversary of 149th/socio-religious reformer Mahendranath Gupta ("Master Mahashay" / 'M') (author of Sri Sri Ramakrishna Kathamrita), Aga Khan III (Sultan Mahomed Shah) (2 November 1877, founding member and first permanent president of the All-India Muslim League), freedom fighter and dramaturge Ibrahim Alkazi's theatre contemporaries, and actor Shah Rukh Khan (2 November 1965, recipient of the Padma Shri, Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, and Légion d'honneur).
5) Person of the Day
Swami Shraddhanand Saraswati (22 February 1856 – 23 December 1926): Revered Indian independence activist, Arya Samaj missionary, social reformer, and visionary educationist, spotlighted nationwide after President Droupadi Murmu graced his Balidan Shatabdi Samaroh (Martyrdom Centenary Commemoration) at Gurukul Kurukshetra, Haryana, on 1 November 2026.
Early Life and Awakening under Swami Dayanand Saraswati: Born as Munshi Ram Vij on 22 February 1856 in Talwan village of Jalandhar district, Punjab, he practised law before meeting Arya Samaj founder Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati in Bareilly, which transformed his life towards Vedic philosophy, social reform, and national awakening; he took Sannyasa in 1917, assuming the name Swami Shraddhanand.
Founder of Gurukul Kangri Vishwavidyalaya: In March 1902, he established the historic Gurukul Kangri near Haridwar (now Gurukula Kangri Deemed to be University) on the banks of the Ganga to revive the ancient Indian Brahmacharya and Gurukul system of education, offering modern scientific and Vedic education in Hindi as an indigenous nationalist alternative to Lord Macaulay's colonial education policy; he also later inspired the founding of Gurukul Kurukshetra (established in 1912).
Role in the Freedom Struggle and Social Reform: Renowned for fearlessly leading protests against the Rowlatt Act in Delhi in March–April 1919, he became the only Hindu religious leader invited to address the congregation from the pulpit of Delhi's Jama Masjid on 4 April 1919 for Hindu-Muslim unity, chaired the Reception Committee of the 1919 Amritsar Session of the Indian National Congress following the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, championed untouchability abolition (Dalit upliftment), women's education, and the Shuddhi and Sangathan movements, and founded journals including the Urdu weekly Saddharm Pracharak, Hindi weekly Vir Arjun, and Shraddha before being assassinated in Delhi on 23 December 1926.
6) Sports
Harmanpreet Singh's Hat-Trick Powers Unbeaten India Past Malaysia 4–2 at ACT 2026: Captain Harmanpreet Singh scored a brilliant hat-trick (3 goals, taking his tournament tally to 8 goals) and Sukhjeet Singh netted a field goal as defending champions India defeated Malaysia 4–2 on 1 November 2026 at the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar, Punjab, registering their fourth consecutive victory at the Men's Hockey Asian Champions Trophy (ACT) 2026 ahead of their final league match against South Korea on 2 November 2026.
Auqib Nabi Replaces Injured Prasidh Krishna in India's ODI Squad for New Zealand Tour: Jammu and Kashmir right-arm fast bowler Auqib Nabi has been named by the BCCI Selection Committee as a replacement for injured pacer Prasidh Krishna in the Indian Men's ODI squad for the five-match series against New Zealand starting on 4 November 2026 in Auckland.
500+ Cyclists Join 97th Edition of 'Fit India – Sundays on Cycle' in Ahmedabad: Over 500 participants joined the 97th edition of 'Fit India – Sundays on Cycle' organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, on 1 November 2026 to commemorate Rashtriya Ekta Diwas.
7) Awards
World Transplant Games Medal Winners Felicitated in New Delhi: During the inauguration of the National Organ Transplant Games 2026 at Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi, Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan and Union MoS for Health Prataprao Jadhav felicitated the Indian medal winners of the World Transplant Games (held in Dresden, Germany) in the presence of National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) Director Dr. Anil Kumar.
Ministry of Coal Star Rating Awards (Assessment Year 2024–25): High-performing public and private coal and lignite mines achieving Five-Star ratings for operational efficiency, safety, and environmental stewardship are being honoured today (2 November 2026) at the Star Rating Awards Ceremony in Raipur, Chhattisgarh.
8) Other Important Significance
Cyclonic Storm 'Murasu' Forms Over Bay of Bengal; Named by India: Days after Cyclone Arnab, a deep depression over the Southwest and adjoining Westcentral Bay of Bengal intensified on 1 November 2026 into Cyclonic Storm 'Murasu'—a Tamil name contributed by India to the WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones list, meaning a 'traditional royal percussion drum' used to broadcast public announcements—and is forecast by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to cross the South Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Narsapur as a Severe Cyclonic Storm (100–110 kmph winds gusting to 120 kmph) during the night of 2 November to early morning of 3 November 2026.
Bengaluru Startup Pranos Fusion Builds 'PRAGYA' Tokamak: Bengaluru-based deep-tech startup Pranos Fusion—incubated at the Institute for Plasma Research (IPR), Gandhinagar (an aided institute under the Department of Atomic Energy)—built an indigenous compact spherical tokamak named 'PRAGYA' to test plasma control and high-temperature superconducting magnets for clean nuclear fusion energy.
DRDO Successfully Flight-Tests Indigenous Quantum Key Distribution Terminal: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) flight-tested an advanced Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) terminal utilizing photon polarization across free-space atmospheric channels to establish hack-proof tactical satellite and military communication links.
Rare Sighting of Elusive Marbled Cat in Namdapha National Park: Wildlife biologists documented rare photographic evidence of the Marbled Cat (Pardofelis marmorata) inside Namdapha National Park in Changlang district, Arunachal Pradesh—the only park in the world known to simultaneously harbour four big cat species (Tiger, Leopard, Snow Leopard, and Clouded Leopard).
Water Ingress Incident Aboard INS Kesari at Visakhapatnam: The Indian Navy instituted a formal inquiry after controlling a minor water ingress incident onboard Shardul-class amphibious Landing Ship Tank (Large) INS Kesari while berthed at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, with zero casualties or injuries reported.