These MCQs are based on The Hindu e-paper of Tuesday, 3rd November 2026, and are useful for WBCS, UPSC, other State PSC, SSC, Railway and Banking exams. Find every edition on our Daily Current Affairs (DCA) page.
National Current Affairs From The Hindu
1. The Supreme Court allowed the use of green crackers in Delhi-NCR during which time slots on November 7 and 8?
A. 6–7 a.m. and 8–10 p.m.
B. 6–8 a.m. and 6–8 p.m.
C. 8–10 p.m. only
D. 7–9 p.m. only
Answer: A. 6–7 a.m. and 8–10 p.m.
Explanation: A Bench of Justices M.M. Sundresh and Prasanna B. Varale allowed only certified green crackers, from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. and from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on November 7 and 8. Only manufacturers certified by CSIR-NEERI and PESO may produce them, and only between November 2 and 6. Series crackers (‘ladis’) and garlands are banned, packets must carry QR codes, and no crackers may be burst within 300 m of hospitals and similar sensitive places. Traders’ licences were restored for November 4 to 6. The Court said the right to religion under Article 25(1) is subject to public order, morality and health, and that the right to a pollution-free environment is part of Article 21. It also noted that ancient texts such as the Skandapurana and Padmapurana mention only lamps, not crackers. Static GK: PESO (Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation) is headquartered in Nagpur, as is CSIR-NEERI. Official site: Supreme Court of India. Revise: Fundamental Rights PYQs.
2. Under the newly notified grievance redressal rules of the VB-G RAM G scheme, within how many days must a grievance be resolved?
A. 7 days
B. 30 days
C. 15 days
D. 45 days
Answer: C. 15 days
Explanation: The Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), under the VB-G RAM G Act, 2025, replaced MGNREGA. Its new rules require grievances to be resolved within 15 days and inquiries to be completed within 7 days. Cases still unresolved after 15 days are escalated to the next level. A clause on filing FIRs that appeared in the draft rules was dropped. Static GK: MGNREGA was enacted in 2005 and guaranteed 100 days of wage employment a year to every rural household. The Ministry of Rural Development administers rural employment schemes.
3. Under the Supreme Court’s new directions on bonded labour, within how many days of release must financial assistance reach a rescued labourer?
A. 24 hours
B. 90 days
C. 30 days
D. 7 days
Answer: D. 7 days
Explanation: A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Aparesh Kumar Singh directed the following:
– Complaints must be verified within 24 hours.
– A release certificate must be issued within 24 hours.
– Financial aid must be paid within 7 days of release.
States must implement the revised Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) of May 14 within six months and the NHRC guidelines within three months. Static GK: Article 23 prohibits traffic in human beings, begar and other forced labour. The Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976 abolished bonded labour.
4. The Supreme Court set aside the Rajasthan State Election Commission’s refusal to let civil society groups run voter-awareness drives for panchayat polls. What did the Court say?
A. Only political parties may conduct awareness drives
B. The poll body cannot monopolise voter awareness
C. Awareness drives need Governor’s approval
D. Such drives violate the Model Code of Conduct
Answer: B. The poll body cannot monopolise voter awareness
Explanation: A Bench headed by CJI Surya Kant heard the case, and Justice Joymalya Bagchi observed that the poll body ‘cannot monopolise’ voter awareness. The petitioners included social activist Aruna Roy. The case also involved prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). Static GK: Section 163 of the BNSS replaces Section 144 of the CrPC. Under Article 243K, State Election Commissions conduct elections to panchayats, and under Article 243ZA they conduct municipal elections.
5. According to the Union Home Ministry, by which year will Foreigners Regional Registration Offices (FRROs) be set up in all State capitals?
A. 2027
B. 2026
C. 2028
D. 2030
Answer: A. 2027
Explanation: There are now 20 FRROs. Offices opened this year at Aizawl and Amravati, and new ones have been notified for Kohima, Agartala and Bhubaneswar. Jaipur, Chandigarh and Guwahati got FRROs from 2025 onwards. FRROs handle registration, visa extensions and exit permits for foreigners and work under the Bureau of Immigration. Static GK: the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025 consolidated four laws: the Passport (Entry into India) Act 1920, the Registration of Foreigners Act 1939, the Foreigners Act 1946 and the Immigration (Carriers’ Liability) Act 2000. Official site: Ministry of Home Affairs.
6. Recently notified rules on airfares allow the Centre to issue directions to airlines in ‘extraordinary situations’. Under which Act were these rules framed?
A. Aircraft Act, 1934
B. Air Corporations Act, 1953
C. Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024
D. Carriage by Air Act, 1972
Answer: C. Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024
Explanation: The rules were notified on October 31. They do not cap fares but allow the Centre to step in during extraordinary situations, and airlines must publish their tariffs. Air Transport Circular 2 of 2010 has now been made part of the rules. The Air Corporations Act was repealed in March 1994, which ended the monopoly of state-owned airlines and deregulated fares. Static GK: the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024 replaced the Aircraft Act, 1934. Official site: Ministry of Civil Aviation.
7. A regional committee met at Roing to resolve boundary disputes between which two States, which share a border of 804.1 km?
A. Assam and Meghalaya
B. Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland
C. Assam and Nagaland
D. Assam and Arunachal Pradesh
Answer: D. Assam and Arunachal Pradesh
Explanation: The committee discussed disputed areas between Lower Dibang Valley district in Arunachal Pradesh and Tinsukia district in Assam. Arunachal Minister Ojing Tasing and Assam Minister Atul Bora led the talks. The Assam–Arunachal border is 804.1 km long. Static GK: Arunachal Pradesh was carved out of Assam as the North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA), became a Union Territory in 1972 and a State in 1987.
8. The Election Commission will allow judges of the Appellate Tribunals in West Bengal to e-sign their orders on which platform, instead of using Aadhaar-based authentication?
A. cVIGIL
B. ECINet
C. Voter Helpline
D. Saksham
Answer: B. ECINet
Explanation: About 38 lakh voters’ cases are pending before 19 Appellate Tribunals hearing appeals from the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal, out of about 60 lakh doubtful cases overall. Allowing e-signatures on ECINet, the Commission’s unified digital platform, is meant to speed up disposal. Static GK: Article 324 vests the superintendence, direction and control of elections in the Election Commission of India. Under the Representation of the People Act, 1950, appeals against electoral-roll decisions lie before appellate authorities.
9. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla addressed a ‘Janpratinidhi Sammelan’ in Panchkula as part of which campaign?
A. Samvidhan Pakhwada
B. Har Ghar Tiranga
C. Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav
D. Meri Maati Mera Desh
Answer: A. Samvidhan Pakhwada
Explanation: Samvidhan Pakhwada is a fortnight of programmes leading up to Constitution Day, and it encourages public representatives to engage with constitutional values. Static GK: Constitution Day (Samvidhan Divas) has been observed on November 26 since 2015. The Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution on November 26, 1949, and it came into force on January 26, 1950. Panchkula is in Haryana.
10. Under Article 171, what share of a State Legislative Council’s members are elected by graduates of the State?
A. One-twelfth
B. One-sixth
C. One-third
D. One-fourth
Answer: A. One-twelfth
Explanation: Composition of a Legislative Council under Article 171:
– One-third are elected by local bodies.
– One-twelfth are elected by graduates.
– One-twelfth are elected by teachers.
– One-third are elected by MLAs.
– One-sixth are nominated by the Governor.
A Council may have at most one-third of the Assembly’s strength and at least 40 members. Elections to 28 Council seats were held in UP, Bihar, Maharashtra and Karnataka. Static GK: the Councils’ composition is set out under Article 171.
11. Which Article lets Parliament create or abolish a State Legislative Council by law, after the State Assembly passes a resolution by a special majority?
A. Article 168
B. Article 171
C. Article 169
D. Article 172
Answer: C. Article 169
Explanation: Under Article 169, the State Assembly must pass a resolution by a majority of its total membership and two-thirds of those present and voting. Article 168 lists the six States that have Councils: Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka. Under Article 172, members serve six-year terms, with one-third retiring every two years. Tamil Nadu abolished its Council in 1986, while Andhra Pradesh abolished its own in 1985 and recreated it in 2007. The Government of India Act, 1935 made six provinces bicameral, and the Second Administrative Reforms Commission (2007) proposed using Councils to represent local governments. Static GK: a Council is a permanent House and is never dissolved.
International Current Affairs
12. Iran has offered to reopen which strategic waterway within two days if the US accepts its conditions?
A. Bab-el-Mandeb
B. Suez Canal
C. Strait of Hormuz
D. Strait of Malacca
Answer: C. Strait of Hormuz
Explanation: Iran has blockaded the Strait of Hormuz since February. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said it could be reopened within two days if the US accepts Iran’s conditions, and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also commented. Static GK: the Strait of Hormuz links the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. Iran lies on its north and Oman’s Musandam Peninsula on its south. About one-fifth of the world’s oil trade passes through it.
13. Which former Indian High Court Chief Justice chairs the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory?
A. Justice A.K. Sikri
B. Justice Rohinton Nariman
C. Justice Madan B. Lokur
D. Justice S. Muralidhar
Answer: D. Justice S. Muralidhar
Explanation: Justice S. Muralidhar, former Chief Justice of the Orissa High Court, chairs the Commission, and Chris Sidoti is a co-commissioner. Navi Pillay of South Africa was the earlier chair. The Commission says Israel controls about 70% of Gaza, which has a population of about 2.3 million. Static GK: the UN Human Rights Council, based in Geneva, set up the Commission in May 2021.
14. The UN peacekeeping mission in which disputed territory ended after Russia vetoed a US-sponsored Security Council resolution?
A. Cyprus
B. Western Sahara
C. South Sudan
D. Golan Heights
Answer: B. Western Sahara
Explanation: The mission was MINURSO, set up in 1991 to oversee a ceasefire and a planned referendum, and it ended after Russia’s veto. The Polisario Front, backed by Algeria, seeks independence for Western Sahara, and Sahrawi refugees live in camps near Tindouf in Algeria. Spain left the territory in 1976, and a ceasefire was agreed in 1991. Morocco controls most of the territory. Static GK: the five permanent members of the Security Council (the US, the UK, France, Russia and China) hold the veto. Revise: International Organizations PYQs.
15. Under the UK’s ‘earned settlement’ changes, care workers who arrived before May 2025 can get Indefinite Leave to Remain after how many years, instead of 15?
A. 5
B. 3
C. 8
D. 10
Answer: A. 5
Explanation: Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced that care workers who arrived before May 2025 can get Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in 5 years instead of 15. The Health and Care Worker visa route ran from October 2020 to July 2025 and brought many workers from India, Nigeria and Zimbabwe. UK net migration had peaked at a record 9,44,000. Static GK: ILR is the UK’s form of permanent residence, and it is usually needed before applying for citizenship.
16. In Israel’s Knesset elections, what minimum share of the vote does a party need to win seats?
A. 1.5%
B. 2%
C. 3.25%
D. 5%
Answer: C. 3.25%
Explanation: Israel elects its 120-member Knesset by nationwide proportional representation, and a party needs at least 3.25% of the vote to win seats. A coalition needs 61 seats for a majority. Likud won 27 seats, its lowest tally in 13 years, while Yashar won 21. The right-wing bloc has 53 seats, the centrist bloc 48 and the Arab parties 19. The leader asked to form a government gets 28 days, which can be extended by 14. Static GK: the Knesset sits in Jerusalem.
17. Greenland opened a new international airport at Ilulissat. Which famous natural feature is the town known for?
A. Geysers
B. Coral reefs
C. Volcanoes
D. Icebergs (the Icefjord in Disko Bay)
Answer: D. Icebergs (the Icefjord in Disko Bay)
Explanation: Ilulissat, known as the ‘City of Icebergs’, lies on Disko Bay. Its new airport has a 2,200-m runway that can take long-haul jets, and Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen hopes it will boost tourism. Greenland has about 56,000 people, and its capital is Nuuk. Static GK: Greenland, the world’s largest island, is an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark. The Ilulissat Icefjord became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004.
18. Which country’s Transboundary Haze Pollution Act is relevant to the haze from wildfires in Indonesia?
A. Malaysia
B. Singapore
C. Thailand
D. Brunei
Answer: B. Singapore
Explanation: According to Nusantara Atlas, wildfires burned about 1.9 million hectares in Indonesia between January and September 2026. The Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) estimates that 5,310 deaths in September alone were linked to the smoke, with about 58 million people exposed. BMKG is Indonesia’s weather agency. Static GK: Singapore’s Transboundary Haze Pollution Act (2014) lets it penalise companies abroad that cause haze, and the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution was signed in 2002.
19. In the Myanmar conflict, the Arakan Army is advancing towards Sittwe, the capital of which State?
A. Rakhine
B. Kachin
C. Shan
D. Chin
Answer: A. Rakhine
Explanation: The military junta carried out air strikes in Rakhine as the Arakan Army closed in on Sittwe. Static GK: Sittwe lies at the mouth of the Kaladan river. India built Sittwe Port under the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project, which links Kolkata with Mizoram via Myanmar.
Economy & Banking Current Affairs
20. What was the HSBC India Manufacturing PMI in October 2026?
A. 51.2
B. 55.1
C. 54.7
D. 57.5
Answer: C. 54.7
Explanation: The PMI eased to 54.7 in October from 55.1 in September but stayed well above 50, the line that separates expansion from contraction. Static GK: the HSBC India PMI is compiled by S&P Global from monthly surveys of purchasing managers. India’s official Index of Industrial Production (IIP) is released by the National Statistics Office (NSO) under MoSPI.
21. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the Centre will keep up capital expenditure. What did she call ‘non-negotiable’?
A. Tax cuts
B. Subsidy reform
C. Disinvestment targets
D. Fiscal prudence
Answer: D. Fiscal prudence
Explanation: The Finance Minister said public capex will continue but fiscal prudence is non-negotiable. Static GK: the FRBM Act, 2003 sets the framework for fiscal discipline, and the fiscal deficit is total expenditure minus total receipts other than borrowings.
22. Natural rubber prices hit a record ₹300 per kg. Which grade does this refer to?
A. ISNR-20
B. RSS-4
C. Latex-60%
D. RSS-5
Answer: B. RSS-4
Explanation: RSS-4 (Ribbed Smoked Sheet grade 4) touched a record ₹300 per kg according to the Rubber Board’s benchmark prices. Static GK: the Rubber Board is a statutory body under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, set up under the Rubber Act, 1947 and headquartered in Kottayam. Kerala is India’s largest producer of natural rubber.
23. The Supreme Court dismissed the Centre’s challenge to arbitral awards in favour of Vedanta and Ravva Oil. The Ravva oilfield is in which basin?
A. Krishna-Godavari
B. Cambay
C. Cauvery
D. Mumbai High
Answer: A. Krishna-Godavari
Explanation: A Bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manmohan upheld awards worth about $99 million. The arbitral tribunal sat in Kuala Lumpur under UNCITRAL rules, and the dispute arose from a 1994 production-sharing contract. Static GK: the Ravva field lies offshore in the Krishna-Godavari (KG) basin off Andhra Pradesh. UNCITRAL is the UN Commission on International Trade Law, set up in 1966. India’s Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 is based on the UNCITRAL Model Law.
24. Petronet LNG reported a jump in quarterly profit. Its main LNG regasification terminals are at which places?
A. Dabhol and Mundra
B. Hazira and Ennore
C. Dahej and Kochi
D. Kakinada and Haldia
Answer: C. Dahej and Kochi
Explanation: Petronet LNG’s profit rose 53.2% to ₹1,235 crore. Static GK: Petronet LNG was promoted by GAIL, ONGC, IOCL and BPCL, and it runs India’s largest LNG terminal at Dahej in Gujarat, along with one at Kochi in Kerala.
25. Which Indian drugmaker received US FDA tentative approval for a generic of lenacapavir, a twice-yearly injectable for HIV prevention (PrEP)?
A. Cipla
B. Sun Pharma
C. Lupin
D. Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories
Answer: D. Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories
Explanation: Dr. Reddy’s received the approval under PEPFAR, using a licence Gilead granted in October 2024 to make lenacapavir for low- and middle-income countries. PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is medicine taken to prevent HIV infection. Static GK: PEPFAR, the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, was launched in 2003.
26. Which airline reported a second-quarter loss of ₹1,879.1 crore?
A. Air India
B. IndiGo
C. SpiceJet
D. Akasa Air
Answer: B. IndiGo
Explanation: IndiGo, run by InterGlobe Aviation and led by CEO William Walsh, reported a Q2 loss of ₹1,879.1 crore. Static GK: IndiGo is India’s largest airline by domestic market share, and the DGCA is India’s civil aviation regulator.
27. The Bank of Japan kept its policy rate unchanged. What is the current rate?
A. 1.25%
B. 0.75%
C. 0.5%
D. 2%
Answer: A. 1.25%
Explanation: The rate stays at 1.25%, and markets expect a hike to 1.5% in December. Governor Kazuo Ueda pointed to core inflation of 2.1%. Static GK: the Bank of Japan was set up in 1882 and became legally independent under a 1998 law. Japan’s currency is the yen.
28. Alphabet’s Q3 results showed Google Cloud revenue growing by about how much year-on-year?
A. 25%
B. 48%
C. 103%
D. 150%
Answer: C. 103%
Explanation: Google Cloud revenue more than doubled, up 103% to $30.7 billion. Alphabet’s total revenue rose 25% to $127.6 billion, quarterly capex was $51.4 billion, and capex guidance for 2026 is $195–205 billion. Alphabet also paid the $5.2 billion European Commission fine imposed in 2018 in the Android case.
29. The Maharashtra government sanctioned how much aid for farmers hit by floods?
A. ₹29.19 crore
B. ₹1,291 crore
C. ₹2,919 crore
D. ₹291.91 crore
Answer: D. ₹291.91 crore
Explanation: Maharashtra sanctioned ₹291.91 crore in aid for flood-hit farmers. Static GK: compensation for crop loss from natural calamities is paid under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) norms set by the Union Home Ministry. Under the Fifteenth Finance Commission, the Centre bears 75% of SDRF funding (90% for northeastern and Himalayan States).
30. The Sensex rose 1,233 points to 75,682.78 on Monday. Which stock led the rally, jumping 11.6% after its Q2 FY27 results?
A. Reliance Industries
B. HDFC Bank
C. Infosys
D. Tata Motors
Answer: A. Reliance Industries
Explanation: Reliance Industries rose 11.6% to its highest level in over six years after better-than-expected Q2 earnings. The Nifty 50 rose 387.70 points to 23,440, and both indices gained 1.7% for a third straight winning session. Energy, metals, PSU banks and auto stocks rose, while IT, media and pharma lagged. Static GK: the Sensex has 30 stocks and the BSE, set up in 1875, is Asia’s oldest stock exchange. The Nifty 50 belongs to the NSE.
Science & Technology Current Affairs
31. According to studies using ESA’s Gaia data, which dwarf galaxy merged with the Milky Way about 10 billion years ago?
A. Sagittarius dwarf
B. Gaia-Enceladus
C. Large Magellanic Cloud
D. Andromeda
Answer: B. Gaia-Enceladus
Explanation: Gaia data show that the Milky Way grew by swallowing smaller galaxies:
– Kraken (Heracles) merged about 12 billion years ago.
– Gaia-Enceladus merged about 10 billion years ago.
– The Sagittarius dwarf galaxy merged about 6 billion years ago.
The Magellanic Clouds are now being drawn in. Vasily Belokurov, Amina Helmi and Rodrigo Ibata won the Kavli Prize in Astrophysics for this work on galactic archaeology. The 4MOST survey instrument at Paranal, Chile, will extend it. Static GK: ESA launched Gaia in 2013, following Hipparcos (1989). Revise: Science & Technology PYQs.
32. UCLA researchers developed a method to detect deepfake videos with 99.86% accuracy. What does it use?
A. Light (optical/physical signals)
B. Audio watermarks
C. Blockchain hashes
D. Facial DNA mapping
Answer: A. Light (optical/physical signals)
Explanation: The UCLA team, publishing in the journal eLight, uses physical light-based signals to tell real recordings from fakes and reports 99.86% accuracy on fakes. A study in Nature Communications found that humans spot deepfakes only about 50% of the time, no better than chance. Static GK: deepfakes are made with generative AI such as GANs (generative adversarial networks).
33. A PNAS study grew lung organoids to study how lung cancer begins. Which gene pair’s mutations were examined?
A. BRCA1/BRCA2
B. EGFR/ALK
C. KRAS/TP53
D. HER2/MYC
Answer: C. KRAS/TP53
Explanation: Researchers from Johns Hopkins and the Van Andel Institute used lung organoids carrying KRAS and TP53 mutations and identified a role for the gene Zbp1. Static GK: organoids are miniature 3D tissues grown from stem cells. KRAS is an oncogene, while TP53 is a tumour-suppressor gene (p53) sometimes called the ‘guardian of the genome’.
34. Laika, the first animal to orbit the Earth, was launched on November 3, 1957, aboard which spacecraft?
A. Sputnik 1
B. Luna 2
C. Vostok 1
D. Sputnik 2
Answer: D. Sputnik 2
Explanation: Laika, a dog, flew aboard the Soviet Sputnik 2. The Hindu’s quiz on events of November 3 also listed:
– 1906: Alois Alzheimer described the disease later named after him.
– 1906: the Berlin Radiotelegraph Convention adopted SOS as the distress signal.
– 1955: the poliovirus was crystallised.
– 1971: the first Unix Programmer’s Manual was released.
– 1973: NASA launched Mariner 10, the first probe to visit Mercury.
35. Vultr announced a 20-MW AI supercluster in which Indian city, using AMD MI355X GPUs?
A. Hyderabad
B. Chennai
C. Pune
D. Noida
Answer: B. Chennai
Explanation: The Chennai supercluster will have about 10,000 AMD Instinct MI355X GPUs. Static GK: under the IndiaAI Mission (2024), the government is building shared GPU computing capacity for startups and researchers.
36. Which event, held in Tai’an in China’s Shandong province, showcased humanoid robots?
A. CMG World Robot Mount Tai Competition
B. World Robot Conference
C. RoboCup
D. World AI Conference
Answer: A. CMG World Robot Mount Tai Competition
Explanation: China Media Group (CMG) held the World Robot Mount Tai Competition at Tai’an, home of Mount Tai. Chinese embodied-AI firms raised $13 billion across 322 deals in the first half of 2026. Static GK: Mount Tai is one of China’s Five Great Mountains and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
37. Which globular cluster, the largest in the Milky Way, may be the remnant nucleus of the galaxy Gaia-Enceladus?
A. M13 (Hercules Cluster)
B. 47 Tucanae
C. Omega Centauri
D. Pleiades
Answer: C. Omega Centauri
Explanation: Researchers suggest that Omega Centauri may be the nucleus of Gaia-Enceladus, the galaxy that merged with the Milky Way about 10 billion years ago. The data are not conclusive. The new 4MOST spectroscopic survey instrument at Paranal, Chile, will survey the southern sky, including the Magellanic Clouds and the Sagittarius stream. Static GK: Paranal hosts the European Southern Observatory’s (ESO) Very Large Telescope. The Pleiades is an open cluster, not a globular one.
Defence & Security Current Affairs
38. The Ministry of Defence signed contracts worth ₹53,866.50 crore for eight Next Generation Corvettes. How are they split between the shipyards?
A. CSL 5, HSL 3
B. MDL 4, GRSE 4
C. GRSE 5, GSL 3
D. GSL 5, MDL 3
Answer: C. GRSE 5, GSL 3
Explanation: Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, will build five ships and Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL) three. According to the Ministry, this is the first time warships designed by the Navy will be built by Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs). The project is expected to generate 72 lakh person-days of work in the shipyards and 460 lakh in ancillary industries over 10 years. Static GK: corvettes are small, agile warships used for coastal patrol and anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare. Official site: Ministry of Defence.
39. National Security Adviser Ajit Doval visited Hanoi and met Vietnam’s Defence Minister General Phan Van Giang. What is the current status of India–Vietnam ties?
A. Strategic Partnership
B. Global Strategic Partnership
C. Special Privileged Partnership
D. Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (Enhanced)
Answer: D. Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (Enhanced)
Explanation: The talks covered defence and security cooperation under the India–Vietnam Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Static GK: India and Vietnam upgraded ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2016. Vietnam is a key partner under India’s Act East Policy, and the BrahMos missile is among the systems discussed for export to Southeast Asia.
Environment & Climate Change Current Affairs
40. Cyclone Murasu is the first cyclone in the North Indian Ocean with a name in which language?
A. Telugu
B. Tamil
C. Malayalam
D. Odia
Answer: B. Tamil
Explanation: ‘Murasu’ is a traditional Tamil percussion instrument (a drum). The name was proposed by the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Chennai. It comes from the second list adopted by the WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones in 2020 and is the third of India’s 13 names on it, after Gati and Tej. Naming of cyclones in the North Indian Ocean began in September 2004, and names may have at most eight letters. RSMC New Delhi, run by the IMD, assigns them. The severe cyclonic storm made landfall between Ongole and Nellore. The NDRF’s 10th Battalion deployed 14 teams, and Tamil Nadu sent 500 power staff in 25 teams to Andhra Pradesh. Static GK: the NDRF was raised in 2006 under the Disaster Management Act, 2005. Official site: IMD. Revise: Disaster Management PYQs.
41. Delhi’s AQI reached 324 (‘very poor’). Which stage of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) was imposed?
A. Stage 2
B. Stage 1
C. Stage 3
D. Stage 4
Answer: A. Stage 2
Explanation: GRAP Stage 2 applies when the AQI is in the ‘very poor’ band of 301–400. Stage 1 is ‘poor’ (201–300), Stage 3 ‘severe’ (401–450) and Stage 4 ‘severe+’ (above 450). The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) enforces GRAP in the National Capital Region (NCR). Static GK: CAQM was set up under the CAQM in NCR and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021. Official site: CAQM. Revise: Air Pollution PYQs.
42. A Special Task Force found that a cheetah cub (KNG22) in Kuno National Park was killed by whom?
A. Wildlife traders
B. A leopard
C. Recreational hunters
D. Villagers in retaliation
Answer: C. Recreational hunters
Explanation: The STF found that recreational hunters, not wildlife traders, killed the cub. Static GK: Kuno National Park is in Madhya Pradesh, on the Kuno river (a tributary of the Chambal). Project Cheetah, Asia’s first intercontinental large-carnivore translocation, began on September 17, 2022 with cheetahs from Namibia, and more came from South Africa in 2023.
43. An editorial raised concerns about the 11.2-GW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project in Arunachal Pradesh. China is building a 60-GW dam on which river?
A. Mekong
B. Indus
C. Sutlej
D. Yarlung Tsangpo
Answer: D. Yarlung Tsangpo
Explanation: China’s mega-dam in Tibet is on the Yarlung Tsangpo, which becomes the Siang in Arunachal Pradesh and the Brahmaputra in Assam. India’s Siang project is partly meant as a ‘buffer’ against sudden changes in flow from the Chinese dam, but members of the Adi community are protesting against displacement. The editorial also cited the Subansiri Upper project. Static GK: the Siang, Dibang and Lohit join near Sadiya to form the Brahmaputra.
44. Which two principles of international environmental law, cited in an op-ed on firecrackers, came from the Rio Earth Summit (1992)?
A. Common heritage and freedom of seas
B. Precautionary and polluter-pays principles
C. Sovereign immunity and non-refoulement
D. Prior informed consent and free trade
Answer: B. Precautionary and polluter-pays principles
Explanation: The op-ed traced these principles from the Stockholm Conference (1972) to the Rio Earth Summit (1992), whose Rio Declaration includes the precautionary principle (Principle 15) and the polluter-pays principle (Principle 16). It cited Article 48A (a Directive Principle on protecting the environment) and Article 51A(g) (a Fundamental Duty to protect it). It also noted that Singapore bans private use of firecrackers. Static GK: the Indian Supreme Court applied both principles in Vellore Citizens’ Welfare Forum (1996). Revise: Environmental Laws PYQs.
45. According to The Hindu’s ‘News in Numbers’, by how much did Meghalaya’s October rainfall fall short of normal?
A. 85%
B. 55%
C. 35%
D. 95%
Answer: A. 85%
Explanation: Meghalaya received 38.3 mm against a normal of 255 mm, a deficit of about 85%. Static GK: Mawsynram and Cherrapunji (Sohra) in Meghalaya are among the wettest places on Earth and get most of their rain from the southwest monsoon.
46. Odisha evacuated about 1.6 lakh people from five districts because of rain triggered by Cyclone Arnab. Which of these districts was NOT among them?
A. Ganjam
B. Gajapati
C. Malkangiri
D. Balasore
Answer: D. Balasore
Explanation: People were evacuated from Ganjam, Gajapati, Malkangiri, Koraput and Kandhamal, all in southern Odisha. Balasore is in the north. Static GK: the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA), set up after the 1999 super cyclone, is regarded as a model for India’s ‘zero casualty’ approach to cyclones.
Government Schemes Current Affairs
47. In Census 2027, the second phase (Population Enumeration) will begin on December 1, 2026 in which States?
A. Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Assam
B. Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, AP
C. UP, Uttarakhand, Goa, Punjab
D. Himachal, J&K, Ladakh, Sikkim
Answer: C. UP, Uttarakhand, Goa, Punjab
Explanation: Population Enumeration begins on December 1 in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa and Punjab, and in the rest of the country in January 2027. Key features:
– It is India’s first digital census.
– The schedule has 40 questions, 13 of them new.
– About 34 lakh enumerators will take part.
– Data quality will be checked under the PRAMAN framework.
– It is the first caste enumeration in independent India (Question 10C).
– Aadhaar is Question 37.
Mritunjay Kumar Narayan is the Registrar General of India (RGI). Static GK: the Census is conducted under the Census Act, 1948, and the RGI works under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Official site: Census of India. Revise: Demography PYQs.
48. The Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Rules were notified in November 2025. When will the regime come fully into effect?
A. November 2026
B. Already in full effect
C. January 2028
D. May 2027
Answer: D. May 2027
Explanation: The DPDP Act was passed in 2023, and its Rules come fully into force in May 2027 after a phased transition. Before the Act, the IT Act, 2000 and the IT (Reasonable Security Practices) Rules, 2011 protected ‘sensitive personal data’. Static GK: a nine-judge Bench of the Supreme Court held privacy to be a Fundamental Right in K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2017). The DPDP Act creates the Data Protection Board of India.
Reports & Indices Current Affairs
49. A study of Tamil Nadu’s finances found that committed expenditure takes up about what share of the State’s revenue receipts?
A. Two-thirds
B. One-third
C. One-fourth
D. Nine-tenths
Answer: A. Two-thirds
Explanation: Economist Anoop Singh argued for expenditure reform, noting that committed spending (salaries, pensions and interest) takes about two-thirds of revenue receipts. He suggested adopting the IMF’s Government Finance Statistics Manual (GFSM) 2014 classification for better reporting. Static GK: committed expenditure leaves little room for capital spending, and State borrowing is regulated under Article 293.
50. According to ‘News in Numbers’, Russia’s LNG exports rose by what percentage to 28 million tonnes despite sanctions?
A. 3.4%
B. 23.4%
C. 13.4%
D. 33.4%
Answer: C. 13.4%
Explanation: Russia’s LNG exports rose 13.4% to 28 million tonnes, helped partly by supplies from the sanctioned Arctic LNG 2 project. Static GK: Qatar, the US and Australia are the world’s largest LNG exporters, and LNG is natural gas cooled to about −162°C.
Awards & Honours Current Affairs
51. Vasily Belokurov, Amina Helmi and Rodrigo Ibata won the Kavli Prize in which field for their work on the Milky Way’s history?
A. Nanoscience
B. Neuroscience
C. Chemistry
D. Astrophysics
Answer: D. Astrophysics
Explanation: The three won the Kavli Prize in Astrophysics for galactic archaeology, which reconstructs the Milky Way’s history of mergers using stellar motions, largely from Gaia data. Static GK: the Kavli Prizes are awarded every two years in astrophysics, nanoscience and neuroscience by the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters with the Kavli Foundation, and each carries $1 million.
Appointments & Resignations Current Affairs
52. Who has been named captain of the India-A squad for the ACC Men’s Rising Stars Asia Cup?
A. Rajat Patidar
B. Tilak Varma
C. Abhishek Sharma
D. Rinku Singh
Answer: B. Tilak Varma
Explanation: Tilak Varma will lead a squad that includes Rajat Patidar, Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Prabhsimran Singh, Rinku Singh and Harshit Rana. Static GK: the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), founded in 1983, runs the Asia Cup and its emerging-teams events.
53. N. Chandrasekaran has been given a third term as chairman of which group’s holding company?
A. Tata Sons
B. Reliance Industries
C. Mahindra & Mahindra
D. Aditya Birla Group
Answer: A. Tata Sons
Explanation: The Tata Sons board extended N. Chandrasekaran’s term as chairman for a third time on September 17, a move questioned by senior advocate Darius Khambata in a critical letter. Static GK: Chandrasekaran, earlier CEO of TCS, became Tata Sons chairman in 2017. Tata Trusts hold a majority stake in Tata Sons.
Sports Current Affairs
54. Kimi Antonelli became Formula One’s youngest-ever world champion. For which team does he drive?
A. Ferrari
B. Red Bull
C. Mercedes
D. McLaren
Answer: C. Mercedes
Explanation: Antonelli, aged 20 years and 68 days, clinched the title by finishing third in the red-flagged Mexico City Grand Prix, which Max Verstappen won, with Lewis Hamilton second. Antonelli is the first Italian champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953 and now leads by an unassailable 119 points. He beat Sebastian Vettel’s record of 23 years and 134 days, set in 2010. He will keep car No. 12 rather than take No. 1 in 2027, saying he is superstitious. Static GK: the Mexico City GP is held at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, and the FIA governs F1. Official site: FIA.
55. Which Australian all-rounder announced his retirement from international cricket after playing 7 Tests, 149 ODIs and 130 T20Is?
A. Mitchell Marsh
B. Steve Smith
C. Marcus Stoinis
D. Glenn Maxwell
Answer: D. Glenn Maxwell
Explanation: Glenn Maxwell, 38, had already quit ODIs last year. He played international cricket for 14 years, and his last match for Australia was against Oman at the T20 World Cup earlier this year.
56. The BCCI extended the IPL player retention deadline to November 17. Where will the mini auction be held on December 16?
A. Mumbai
B. Goa
C. Abu Dhabi
D. Jeddah
Answer: B. Goa
Explanation: The deadline moved from November 15 to November 17 because of the India–New Zealand ODI series, whose fifth match is on November 15 at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui. Player registration closes on November 23, franchises submit their shortlists by December 1, and the final auction register will be released on December 3.
57. At the men’s hockey Asian Champions Trophy, India ended the league phase by beating Korea by what score?
A. 8-0
B. 6-1
C. 4-0
D. 5-2
Answer: A. 8-0
Explanation: India beat Korea 8-0 in Jalandhar, with seven different scorers including Dilpreet Singh (2), Jugraj Singh, Harmanpreet Singh and Angad Bir Singh. The knockouts move to Mohali, where India meet Korea again in the semi-final and Japan face Malaysia after upsetting them 2-1. Static GK: the Asian Champions Trophy began in 2011, and India has won it a record five times.
58. Rains from Cyclone Murasu washed out the opening day of which tennis tournament in Chennai?
A. ATP 250 Chennai Open
B. ITF World Tennis Tour
C. WTA 250 Chennai Open
D. Davis Cup tie
Answer: C. WTA 250 Chennai Open
Explanation: The opening day of the WTA 250 Chennai Open was lost to rain, so all 16 first-round matches were scheduled for the next day from 11 a.m. Static GK: the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) runs the women’s professional tour, and its 250 events are the entry-level tier.
59. American archer Casey Kaufhold spoke about the Archery Premier League (APL). What shot clock does the APL use?
A. 10 seconds
B. 30 seconds
C. 20 seconds
D. 15 seconds
Answer: D. 15 seconds
Explanation: The APL uses a 15-second shot clock, compared with 20 seconds at World Cup events, and its teams mix recurve and compound archers. Kaufhold, 22, an Olympic medallist from Paris, played for the Chero Archers alongside 17-year-old Asian Games champion Kumkum Mohod of India. Static GK: World Archery, the global governing body, is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland.
60. In the second unofficial ‘Test’ between India-A and New Zealand-A in Christchurch, who took five wickets for India-A?
A. Mohammed Siraj
B. Mukesh Kumar
C. Harshit Rana
D. Prasidh Krishna
Answer: B. Mukesh Kumar
Explanation: Mukesh Kumar took 5 for 87 and Mohammed Siraj 4 for 118, but New Zealand-A made 424 in reply to India-A’s 346 to take a 78-run lead. Siraj, who made his India debut against New Zealand in November 2017, is preparing for a two-Test series in New Zealand.
61. In the Ranji Trophy, B. Indrajith became the Tamil Nadu batter with the most half-centuries. How many does he now have?
A. 30
B. 29
C. 25
D. 35
Answer: A. 30
Explanation: Indrajith’s 51 against Chandigarh was his 30th Ranji half-century, taking him past S. Sharath and Hemang Badani (29 each). Pradosh Ranjan Paul (138 not out) took Tamil Nadu to 320 for 4. In other first-day matches, Karnataka spinners Ritesh Bhatkal (5/35) and Shikhar Shetty (5/53) shared all 10 wickets to bowl Assam out for 135, and Vidarbha’s Harsh Dubey took 9 for 53 against Madhya Pradesh. Static GK: the Ranji Trophy, India’s premier first-class tournament, began in 1934 and is named after K.S. Ranjitsinhji.
62. The Visakhapatnam leg of the Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL) is which leg of its Season 2?
A. 6th
B. 10th
C. 8th
D. 12th
Answer: B. 10th
Explanation: The 10th leg of IGPL Season 2, called the Green Fuels Maritime Invitational, is being held at the Vizag Dolphins Golf Club. Gaganjeet Bhullar, Pukhraj Singh Gill (who recently earned his Asian Tour card) and Aryan Roopa Anand are the main draws, among 60 professionals, including 10 women, and six amateurs. The IGPL’s CEO is Uttam Singh Mundy.
Summits & Conferences Current Affairs
63. Inaugurating the Bharat Renewable Energy Summit, the PM said renewable energy offers investment opportunities of about how much by the end of the decade?
A. $50 billion
B. $220 billion
C. $120 billion
D. $500 billion
Answer: B. $220 billion
Explanation: The Prime Minister put the opportunity in Indian renewable energy at about $220 billion by 2030. Static GK: India aims for 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030 under its Panchamrit commitments at COP26, and net zero by 2070. The International Solar Alliance (ISA), co-founded by India and France in 2015, is headquartered in Gurugram.
Persons in News Current Affairs
64. Who is the UK Home Secretary who announced the ‘earned settlement’ changes for migrants?
A. Yvette Cooper
B. Suella Braverman
C. Shabana Mahmood
D. Priti Patel
Answer: C. Shabana Mahmood
Explanation: Shabana Mahmood, the Home Secretary, announced the overhaul of settlement rules, including faster Indefinite Leave to Remain for some care workers. Static GK: the Home Office handles immigration, policing and national security in the UK.
65. Who is Iran’s Foreign Minister who, along with spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei, set out conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz?
A. Mohammad Javad Zarif
B. Hossein Amir-Abdollahian
C. Ali Larijani
D. Abbas Araghchi
Answer: D. Abbas Araghchi
Explanation: Abbas Araghchi is Iran’s Foreign Minister, and Esmaeil Baqaei is the Foreign Ministry spokesman. Static GK: Iran’s capital is Tehran and its currency is the rial. Iran became a full member of the SCO in 2023 and joined BRICS in 2024.
66. Social activist Aruna Roy, a petitioner in the Rajasthan voter-awareness case, co-founded which organisation known for the Right to Information movement?
A. Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS)
B. Narmada Bachao Andolan
C. SEWA
D. Chipko Andolan
Answer: A. Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS)
Explanation: Aruna Roy co-founded the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS) in Rajasthan in 1990, and its grassroots campaign led to the Right to Information Act, 2005. She received the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2000.
Places in News Current Affairs
67. Russian bombing of a school killed 24 people in Komyshuvakha. In which Ukrainian region is this village?
A. Kharkiv
B. Zaporizhzhia
C. Donetsk
D. Kherson
Answer: B. Zaporizhzhia
Explanation: Komyshuvakha is in Zaporizhzhia oblast in southeastern Ukraine, which is also home to Europe’s largest nuclear power plant. Static GK: Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began on February 24, 2022. Ukraine’s capital is Kyiv.
68. Houthi rebels struck the airport of which Saudi Arabian city?
A. Dammam
B. Jeddah
C. Riyadh
D. Medina
Answer: A. Dammam
Explanation: The Houthis said they struck Dammam airport. Dammam is the capital of Saudi Arabia’s oil-rich Eastern Province on the Persian Gulf. Static GK: the Houthis (Ansar Allah) control much of northern Yemen, including Sanaa.
69. The Venezuelan Army attacked an ELN guerrilla camp in which State bordering Colombia?
A. Zulia
B. Táchira
C. Apure
D. Bolívar
Answer: C. Apure
Explanation: Apure State, in Venezuela’s plains (Llanos) region, borders Colombia, and the Colombian guerrilla group ELN (National Liberation Army) operates across the border there. Static GK: Venezuela’s capital is Caracas, and it holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves.
Art & Culture Current Affairs
70. Valmiki’s first sloka, ‘Ma Nishada’, is said to have been composed after he saw a hunter kill one of a pair of which birds?
A. Swans
B. Parrots
C. Peacocks
D. Krauncha birds (cranes)
Answer: D. Krauncha birds (cranes)
Explanation: According to tradition, Valmiki saw a hunter kill one of a pair of krauncha birds, and the sloka ‘ma nishada’ came out of his grief, making him the Adi Kavi (first poet). The Ramayana has about 24,000 verses. Static GK: the Valmiki Ramayana has seven kandas (Bala to Uttara), and Tulsidas wrote the Ramcharitmanas in Awadhi in the 16th century.
71. The London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, held this week, commemorates which event?
A. The first motor race
B. The 1896 Emancipation Run marking higher speed limits
C. The opening of the M23 motorway
D. The first car factory in Britain
Answer: B. The 1896 Emancipation Run marking higher speed limits
Explanation: The run commemorates the ‘Emancipation Run’ of November 1896, held after the UK raised the speed limit for ‘light locomotives’ and dropped the rule that a person carrying a red flag had to walk in front of them. Only cars built before 1905 may take part.
Miscellaneous Current Affairs
72. In a cyber-attack reported in Sweden and other countries, hackers raised the temperature of supermarket freezers to about what level?
A. 0°C
B. 25°C
C. 100°C
D. 50°C
Answer: D. 50°C
Explanation: Hackers raised freezer temperatures to about 50°C, showing how vulnerable Internet of Things (IoT) and operational technology (OT) systems are. Static GK: India’s national nodal agency for cyber security incidents is CERT-In, set up under Section 70B of the IT Act, 2000.
73. In the US midterm elections held on November 3, a close Senate race was reported in Kansas. Since when has Kansas not elected a Democratic senator?
A. 1960
B. 1932
C. 1980
D. 1996
Answer: B. 1932
Explanation: Kansas last elected a Democrat to the US Senate in 1932, so a competitive race there drew attention. Static GK: midterms are held halfway through a President’s four-year term. All 435 House seats and about one-third of the 100 Senate seats are contested.
Also Read: Related PYQs & Notes
- Previous edition: Daily Current Affairs from The Hindu, 2nd November 2026
- Polity: WBCS Mains Indian Polity – State Government PYQs
- Sports: WBCS Mains GK – Sports PYQs
- All editions: Daily Current Affairs category
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