These MCQs are based on The Hindu e-paper of Monday, 2nd 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. Addressing the Kerala High Court’s platinum jubilee, CJI Surya Kant flagged the pendency in High Courts. About how many cases are pending in High Courts across India?
A. 6.55 lakh
B. 16.5 lakh
C. 65.5 lakh
D. 97,201
Answer: C. 65.5 lakh
Explanation: 65,54,788 cases are pending in the High Courts, while Supreme Court pendency is close to one lakh at 97,201 cases. Raising the number of Supreme Court judges from 34 to 38 (including the CJI) has not stopped pendency from rising. The 25 High Courts had 292 vacancies against a sanctioned strength of 1,122 as on October 6, 2026. The CJI said the writ powers of High Courts under Article 226 are wider than those of the Supreme Court under Article 32. Static GK: Parliament fixes the number of Supreme Court judges by law (Article 124(1)). Article 32 is itself a Fundamental Right, while Article 226 also covers ‘any other purpose’. Official site: Supreme Court of India. Revise: Judiciary PYQs.
2. The Tamil Nadu government celebrated ‘Tamil Nadu Day’ on November 1. The DMK objected, saying Tamil Nadu Day falls on which date?
A. January 14
B. April 14
C. July 18
D. August 15
Answer: C. July 18
Explanation: Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar and Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay greeted people on November 1, the day the State was formed on linguistic lines. The DMK said November 1 marks the linguistic reorganisation of States and honours the martyrs of the boundary struggles, while Tamil Nadu Day is July 18. Static GK: the States Reorganisation Act, 1956 took effect on November 1, 1956. On July 18, 1967, the Assembly resolved to rename Madras State ‘Tamil Nadu’, and the change took effect on January 14, 1969.
3. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw flagged off a Vande Bharat Sleeper Express between which two terminals?
A. KSR Bengaluru – Lokmanya Tilak Terminus
B. SMVT Bengaluru – CSMT Mumbai
C. Yesvantpur – Pune Junction
D. Mysuru – Dadar
Answer: B. SMVT Bengaluru – CSMT Mumbai
Explanation: The overnight train links Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminal (SMVT), Bengaluru, with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), Mumbai, and passes through two stations in Andhra Pradesh. It leaves Bengaluru at 7.45 p.m. and reaches Mumbai at 11.55 a.m. It runs six days a week, except Mondays from Bengaluru and Tuesdays from Mumbai. Static GK: Vande Bharat trains are built at the Integral Coach Factory, Chennai, and the first ran between New Delhi and Varanasi in 2019.
4. Union Home Minister Amit Shah said which Union Territory will become India’s first drug-free city?
A. Puducherry
B. Chandigarh
C. Delhi
D. Daman
Answer: B. Chandigarh
Explanation: Shah said Chandigarh has a 93% conviction rate in NDPS cases, and 8,206 FIRs have been registered there since August 4, 2024. Static GK: Chandigarh is the common capital of Punjab and Haryana and was planned by Le Corbusier. The NDPS Act was enacted in 1985, and the Narcotics Control Bureau was set up in 1986.
5. After a fatal crash at Joshimath, Char Dham helicopter operators threatened to suspend services over which new rule from the DGCA and UCADA?
A. Night-flying ban
B. Two pilots on every charter sortie
C. Single-engine helicopters barred
D. A cap of four passengers
Answer: B. Two pilots on every charter sortie
Explanation: This follows the October 30 Joshimath crash, which killed six people, including the pilot. Operators say the two-pilot mandate raises crew, accommodation and logistics costs and makes operations unviable. They want services suspended until the directive is reviewed. UCADA CEO Prateek Jain said a possible drone strike is part of the investigation. Static GK: the Char Dham are Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath in Uttarakhand.
6. The Jharkhand Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) was held after a gap of how many years?
A. 5
B. 7
C. 10
D. 12
Answer: C. 10
Explanation: The Jharkhand Academic Council held the test at 986 centres. 4,85,243 of the 5,65,916 registered candidates appeared, and it aims to fill about 39,000 teaching posts in government primary and upper primary schools. Static GK: the NCTE made TET a minimum qualification for teachers under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009.
7. West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari set a target of citizenship certificates under the CAA for 2.5 lakh Matuas by December 31. The Matua community’s religious headquarters is at
A. Nabadwip
B. Thakurnagar
C. Bongaon
D. Tarakeswar
Answer: B. Thakurnagar
Explanation: Adhikari said only about 25,000 Matuas have received certificates so far. The Matuas are a Hindu Namasudra community, mostly in North 24 Parganas and Nadia, and their religious headquarters is at Thakurnagar (North 24 Parganas). Static GK: the Matua Mahasangha traces its origin to Harichand Thakur. The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 covers persecuted non-Muslim minorities from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who entered India on or before December 31, 2014, and its rules were notified in March 2024.
8. Aligarh Muslim University’s Women’s College, whose students are not allowed to vote in the AMU Students’ Union (AMUSU) poll, began in 1906 as a
A. Nursing school
B. Girls’ school
C. Teacher training college
D. Women’s hostel
Answer: B. Girls’ school
Explanation: The Women’s College was set up in 1906 as a girls’ school, became an undergraduate college in 1937, and has about 4,000 students. AMUSU elections are due on November 5, the first in about eight years. The Union dates back to the Siddons Union Club, founded in 1884 at the MAO College. Static GK: Sir Syed Ahmad Khan founded the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College in 1875, and it became AMU under the AMU Act, 1920.
9. Delhi CM Rekha Gupta announced the redevelopment of the 3.3-km Netaji Subhash Marg into a heritage corridor. This road connects
A. India Gate and Rajghat
B. Delhi Gate and Kashmere Gate
C. Ajmeri Gate and Lahori Gate
D. Red Fort and Qutub Minar
Answer: B. Delhi Gate and Kashmere Gate
Explanation: The redevelopment was announced on Delhi’s Foundation Day (November 1). The Indraprastha Virasat Punarvikas Nigam will carry it out in three sections, with the first running from Kashmere Gate to GPO Chowk. The aim is to make the corridor organised and safe and to link it with the area’s history, heritage and green spaces.
10. Kerala’s progress under the Jal Jeevan Mission is among the lowest in the country. What share of the works has the State completed?
A. 35.24%
B. 55.24%
C. 75.24%
D. 85.24%
Answer: B. 55.24%
Explanation: Kerala has completed only 55.24% of the works and needs ₹26,074.17 crore more. It has spent ₹18,640.62 crore of the total outlay of ₹44,714.79 crore, which is shared 50:50 by the Centre and the State. The national deadline is December 2028. Static GK: the Jal Jeevan Mission was launched on August 15, 2019 to give every rural household a functional tap connection, and it is run by the Ministry of Jal Shakti. Official site: Jal Jeevan Mission.
11. Seven Rameswaram fishermen were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy near an islet that India ceded to Sri Lanka under a 1974 agreement. Name the islet.
A. Pamban
B. Katchatheevu
C. Dhanushkodi
D. Mannar
Answer: B. Katchatheevu
Explanation: The fishermen were arrested while fishing between Katchatheevu and Mannar North. Static GK: Katchatheevu lies in the Palk Strait and was recognised as Sri Lankan territory under the 1974 India–Sri Lanka maritime boundary agreement (Indira Gandhi–Sirimavo Bandaranaike). The 1976 agreement settled the boundary in the Gulf of Mannar and the Bay of Bengal.
International Current Affairs
12. At the UN General Assembly on October 30, how many countries voted for the resolution calling for an end to the U.S. embargo on Cuba?
A. 187
B. 165
C. 130
D. 117
Answer: C. 130
Explanation: The vote was 130 in favour, 17 against and 25 abstentions. Over the previous decade more than 180 of the 193 members had backed it, falling to 165 in 2025. Several Latin American countries switched their votes, and Germany and Italy abstained. India voted in favour and called for ‘dialogue and diplomacy’, a month after the BRICS New Delhi Declaration voiced concern over the blockade. The UNGA has passed this resolution nearly every year since 1992.
13. China’s Communist Party Central Committee held its Fifth Plenum in October. How many Central Committee members were confirmed as expelled?
A. 16
B. 33
C. 79
D. 97
Answer: B. 33
Explanation: The plenum, which ended in Beijing on October 29, confirmed that 33 Central Committee members had been expelled, including 16 PLA Generals. Only 279 of the 376 members appointed at the 20th Party Congress (2022) were present. The 21st Party Congress is due in the second half of 2027. Among those removed was Zhang Youxia, a Vice-Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC). Static GK: Xi Jinping is the General Secretary of the CPC and Chairman of the CMC.
14. Bangladesh announced a new wage board after protests by which group of workers in Gazipur and Dhaka?
A. Jute mill workers
B. Garment workers
C. Tea garden workers
D. Ship-breaking workers
Answer: B. Garment workers
Explanation: Garment workers have long demanded higher pay. Static GK: Bangladesh is the world’s second-largest apparel exporter after China, and ready-made garments make up most of its exports.
15. Somali pirates seized the Iranian fishing vessel ‘Azini’, carrying 23 people. Which centre issued the alert warning it could become a base for further attacks?
A. IFC-IOR Gurugram
B. Maritime Security Centre Indian Ocean
C. IMO Piracy Reporting Centre, London
D. UKMTO Dubai
Answer: B. Maritime Security Centre Indian Ocean
Explanation: The Maritime Security Centre Indian Ocean (MSCIO) warned that the vessel was approaching a commercial shipping lane and could become a ‘floating base’ for attacks. Static GK: piracy off Somalia mostly affects the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea. The Indian Navy has run anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden since 2008.
16. Houthi media said Saudi air strikes hit Ras Issa port. Which Red Sea port city of Yemen is it part of?
A. Aden
B. Mukalla
C. Hodeidah
D. Mocha
Answer: C. Hodeidah
Explanation: The Houthis control Hodeidah, Yemen’s main Red Sea port, and are fighting a Saudi-led coalition that backs the internationally recognised government. Static GK: Yemen’s capital Sana’a has been held by the Houthis since 2014, while the government is based in Aden.
17. In Poland, the head of state and the government are in a standoff over the Constitutional Tribunal. Its judges are elected by the Sejm for a term of
A. 5 years
B. 6 years
C. 9 years
D. 12 years
Answer: C. 9 years
Explanation: On October 30, judge Anna Korwin-Piotrowska ordered a one-month suspension of the Tribunal’s president Bogdan Święczkowski and vice-president Bartłomiej Sochański, pending a disciplinary review. President Karol Nawrocki, backed by PiS, supports Święczkowski and has refused to administer the oath to some judges elected by the current Sejm. Poland has a dual executive, with PM Donald Tusk heading a centrist government. Parliamentary elections are due in 2027. Static GK: the Sejm is the lower house of Poland’s Parliament, and the Senate is the upper house.
18. Israel’s Central Elections Committee chief said the Shin Bet inquiry into alleged Qatari funding of the Arab party Ra’am will not undermine the result. He is a judge of the Supreme Court named
A. Yitzhak Amit
B. Noam Sohlberg
C. Aharon Barak
D. Esther Hayut
Answer: B. Noam Sohlberg
Explanation: Justice Noam Sohlberg said the elections to the 26th Knesset were conducted properly and that ‘suspicions remain suspicions’. Ra’am chief Mansour Abbas denied the charge, and Qatar also rejected it. Static GK: the Knesset has 120 members, and Shin Bet is Israel’s internal security agency.
19. The Office on Missing Persons, which says it has 22,000 cases of people who disappeared during the civil war, belongs to which country?
A. Nepal
B. Sri Lanka
C. Myanmar
D. Bangladesh
Answer: B. Sri Lanka
Explanation: Families of the disappeared in Batticaloa (Eastern Province) have protested for 1,604 consecutive days. The civil war between government forces and the LTTE lasted from 1983 to 2009 and killed more than 1,00,000 people, according to UN estimates. The UN cites up to 1,00,000 disappearances, and the Office on Missing Persons was set up in 2018. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, elected in 2024, is the country’s first left-wing President.
20. Pakistan warned the Taliban regime in Afghanistan that terrorism is a ‘red line’. Which militant group does Islamabad accuse of operating from Afghan soil?
A. Lashkar-e-Taiba
B. Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan
C. Jaish-e-Mohammed
D. Hizb-ul-Mujahideen
Answer: B. Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan
Explanation: Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said it reserves the right to take ‘all necessary measures’ against cross-border terror threats. It accuses the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) of attacking from Afghanistan. Static GK: the Durand Line (1893) is the disputed border between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Economy & Banking Current Affairs
21. Gross GST collections in October 2026 were ₹2.31 lakh crore. What was the year-on-year growth?
A. About 9%
B. About 13%
C. About 23%
D. About 32%
Answer: C. About 23%
Explanation: Collections grew about 23% (22.9%) on festive demand. October was the second-highest month ever after April 2026 (₹2.43 lakh crore) and the second straight month above ₹2 lakh crore. Domestic revenue was ₹1.59 lakh crore (+16%) and import revenue ₹72,246 crore (+42%). Refunds were ₹27,934 crore, leaving net collections of ₹2.03 lakh crore (+26%). From April to October, gross collections were ₹14.77 lakh crore (+13.2%). Static GK: GST was introduced on July 1, 2017 under the 101st Constitutional Amendment, and the GST Council is set up under Article 279A. Official site: GST portal.
22. In October 2026, of the components of gross GST, which one brought in the largest amount (about ₹1.37 lakh crore)?
A. CGST
B. SGST
C. IGST
D. Compensation cess
Answer: C. IGST
Explanation: IGST brought in about ₹1.37 lakh crore, compared with ₹42,935 crore from CGST and ₹51,340 crore from SGST. IGST is levied on inter-State supplies and imports and is later shared between the Centre and the States.
23. How much did Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) withdraw from Indian equities in October 2026, according to depository data?
A. ₹14,843 crore
B. ₹34,843 crore
C. ₹35,861 crore
D. ₹54,843 crore
Answer: B. ₹34,843 crore
Explanation: FPIs pulled out ₹34,843 crore in October, after withdrawing ₹35,861 crore in September. Static GK: FPIs are regulated by SEBI. India’s two depositories are NSDL and CDSL, and CDSL is promoted by BSE.
24. Oil marketing companies raised the price of aviation turbine fuel (ATF) for domestic airlines in Delhi to what level?
A. ₹118.5 per litre
B. ₹128.5 per litre
C. ₹138.5 per litre
D. ₹148.5 per litre
Answer: C. ₹138.5 per litre
Explanation: ATF went up by ₹1.37 to ₹138.5 a litre, the fourth hike since prices were last cut in July. A 19-kg commercial LPG cylinder rose by ₹10 to ₹2,820 in Delhi, and the 5-kg free-trade LPG (FTL) refill rose by about ₹2.5. Domestic LPG prices did not change.
25. India’s coal imports fell 5.83% in August 2026. What was imported coal’s share of total consumption that month?
A. 9.3%
B. 19.3%
C. 29.3%
D. 39.3%
Answer: B. 19.3%
Explanation: Imported coal’s share of consumption fell to 19.3% from 21.2%. Coking coal imports were 27.3 MT, and India imports about 95% of the coking coal it needs. Separately, Coal India’s October output rose 19.3% to 67.2 MT. Static GK: Coal India Ltd is headquartered in Kolkata. Coking coal is used to make steel, while thermal coal is used to generate power. Revise: Mineral & energy resources PYQs.
26. How much did India’s power consumption grow, year on year, in October 2026?
A. About 6%
B. About 12%
C. About 22%
D. About 32%
Answer: C. About 22%
Explanation: Power consumption grew 21.88% to 159.76 billion units (BU) in October, according to official data in The Hindu’s ‘News in Numbers’.
27. The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) marked its 74th Foundation Day. Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya put its corpus at about
A. ₹12 lakh crore
B. ₹22 lakh crore
C. ₹32 lakh crore
D. ₹42 lakh crore
Answer: C. ₹32 lakh crore
Explanation: Mandaviya said the trust in EPFO shows in its ₹32 lakh crore corpus, built from the contributions of more than eight crore members. He asked EPFO staff to focus on worker-centric innovation. Static GK: EPFO is a statutory body under the Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952, and works under the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
28. In FY26, India’s nine major ports handled 212 cruise ship calls. The Centre aims to double cruise passenger traffic to how many by FY29?
A. 5 lakh
B. 10 lakh (one million)
C. 25 lakh
D. 50 lakh
Answer: B. 10 lakh (one million)
Explanation: In FY26 the ports handled 4.62 lakh cruise passengers. Domestic cruises made up 78% of ship calls and over 90% of traffic, and Mumbai alone handled 45% of ship calls and 52% of passengers. Cordelia Cruises inducted its second ship, Cordelia Sky. Mormugao Port (Goa) is building a ₹185-crore cruise terminal that can berth four ships at once. Static GK: the Cruise Bharat Mission, run by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, aims to double cruise passengers by 2029.
29. In September 2013, the RBI banned which kind of scheme, saying the interest charged in it was being disguised as a processing fee?
A. Gold loans above ₹1 lakh
B. 0% interest EMI schemes on credit cards
C. Teaser home loan rates
D. Buy-now-pay-later on UPI
Answer: B. 0% interest EMI schemes on credit cards
Explanation: A Moneywise column shows that ‘no-cost EMI’ still carries hidden costs. The retailer either raises the price or drops the cash discount, 18% GST applies to the interest, and processing fees are added on top. The effective rate can reach about 20% a year. India’s CPI inflation was 5.54% in September 2026. Static GK: under its flexible inflation-targeting framework, the RBI targets 4% CPI inflation within a 2–6% band.
30. In October 2026, Comex gold fell 7.26% and closed below which psychological level for the first time in a year?
A. $3,000 an ounce
B. $3,500 an ounce
C. $4,000 an ounce
D. $4,550 an ounce
Answer: C. $4,000 an ounce
Explanation: Comex gold settled at $3,884.9 an ounce, and silver fell 19.1% to $49.13. On MCX, gold fell 7.16% to ₹1,38,419 per 10 g, and silver fell about 20% to ₹1,78,900 a kg. Rising crude prices, inflation worries and the risk of higher U.S. interest rates hurt precious metals. Static GK: MCX (Multi Commodity Exchange of India) is regulated by SEBI.
31. An EY report put the size of India’s organised live events market in 2024 at more than
A. ₹2,000 crore
B. ₹7,000 crore
C. ₹12,000 crore
D. ₹25,000 crore
Answer: C. ₹12,000 crore
Explanation: EY put the market at over ₹12,000 crore, growing about 19% a year. BookMyShow’s live events revenue more than tripled, from ₹237.5 crore in FY23 to ₹756 crore in FY25, and it produced more than 900 shows for Indian artistes in FY25.
32. The Sivakasi fireworks industry, with an estimated market size of ₹7,000 crore, is in which district of Tamil Nadu?
A. Madurai
B. Virudhunagar
C. Tirunelveli
D. Sivaganga
Answer: B. Virudhunagar
Explanation: Manufacturing accounts for about ₹2,000 crore of the ₹7,000-crore market. Cracker prices are up 10–20%, partly because aluminium and potassium nitrate cost more. Industry body TANFAMA (92 groups covering 420 factories) says the industry fills only 70% of its orders. Industries Minister S. Keerthana has proposed a Sivakasi Pyrotechnics Common Facility Centre to help the industry supply the defence and space sectors. Jawaharlal Nehru called Sivakasi ‘Kutty Japan’ (mini Japan).
Science & Technology Current Affairs
33. The Indian Institute of Astrophysics said the Moon would pass in front of Jupiter and hide it for a few minutes early on Tuesday. This event is called
A. Transit
B. Lunar occultation
C. Conjunction
D. Opposition
Answer: B. Lunar occultation
Explanation: The event could be seen from Bengaluru and other parts of south India at about 2.30 a.m., with the naked eye, binoculars or a small telescope. In an occultation, a nearer body (here the Moon) passes in front of a farther one and hides it. Static GK: the IIA is headquartered in Bengaluru and runs the Vainu Bappu Observatory at Kavalur. Jupiter is the largest planet in the Solar System.
34. Palaeontologists named a new bird-like dinosaur ‘Infernogallus jamesi’ (‘hell chicken’). It was found in which fossil formation?
A. Morrison Formation
B. Hell Creek Formation
C. Lameta Formation
D. Gobi’s Nemegt Formation
Answer: B. Hell Creek Formation
Explanation: Infernogallus is a caenagnathid oviraptorosaur from the Hell Creek Formation in North America, and it probably ate fruit. The study was published in Nature Communications. Static GK: the Hell Creek Formation dates from the end of the Cretaceous, the time of the mass extinction about 66 million years ago. India’s Lameta Formation (Jabalpur) is known for dinosaur eggs and fossils.
35. According to Chainalysis, the roughly $6.3-billion hack of the crypto exchange Binance on October 29 was carried out by ‘TraderTraitor’, a group linked to which country?
A. Iran
B. Russia
C. North Korea
D. China
Answer: C. North Korea
Explanation: TraderTraitor is linked to North Korea’s Lazarus Group. Stablecoin issuers Tether and Circle froze about 1.567 billion USDT and 800 million USDC. Binance has a Secure Asset Fund for Users (SAFU). The 2024 hack of India’s WazirX was also blamed on the Lazarus Group. Static GK: stablecoins are crypto tokens pegged to a currency such as the U.S. dollar.
36. The 2026 southwest monsoon ended at 87.4% of its long period average (LPA). What is the LPA of India’s monsoon rainfall?
A. 78 cm
B. 87 cm
C. 96 cm
D. 104 cm
Answer: B. 87 cm
Explanation: The monsoon ended about 13% below the LPA of 87 cm, and East and Northeast India had their driest season since records began in 1901. The IMD had forecast 92% ± 5%. The Oceanic Niño Index reached 1.98°C, compared with 1.64°C in 1997 and 1.59°C in 2015. Static GK: the IMD calls the monsoon ‘normal’ at 96–104% of the LPA and ‘deficient’ below 90%. Official site: India Meteorological Department. Revise: Climate & soils PYQs.
37. India received normal rainfall in 1997 despite a strong El Niño, because of which Indian Ocean condition?
A. Negative Indian Ocean Dipole
B. Positive Indian Ocean Dipole
C. La Niña
D. Western disturbance
Answer: B. Positive Indian Ocean Dipole
Explanation: In a positive IOD, the western Indian Ocean is warmer than the eastern side, which boosts monsoon rain over India and can offset El Niño, as it did in 1997. The Madden-Julian Oscillation, an eastward-moving band of clouds and rain that recurs every 30–60 days, also affects the monsoon. Only seven monsoons since 1950 have faced a moderate or strong El Niño. About 40% of India’s farmland is unirrigated, and the monsoon brings about three-quarters of the annual rain.
38. On September 30, the Supreme Court conditionally allowed Sivakasi units to make which product?
A. Barium-based crackers
B. Next-generation joined green crackers
C. Sky lanterns
D. Chinese crackers
Answer: B. Next-generation joined green crackers
Explanation: The order has lifted demand in Sivakasi this Deepavali, which falls on November 8. Static GK: green crackers were developed by CSIR-NEERI and give off fewer particulates and gases than conventional crackers. Joined (series) crackers, made of many crackers strung together, had earlier been restricted.
Defence & Security Current Affairs
39. The Defence Acquisition Council has given in-principle approval for next-generation stealth guided-missile destroyers worth about ₹80,000 crore. Under which project?
A. Project 75I
B. Project 17B
C. Project 18A
D. Project 15C
Answer: C. Project 18A
Explanation: The DAC, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, cleared the destroyers, which will have about 75% indigenous content. Both DPSUs and private firms can bid, and deliveries may begin five to ten years after the contract is signed. The Navy’s Warship Design Bureau will design them, and they will be more advanced than the Visakhapatnam class. The Navy now has 12–13 guided-missile destroyers of the Visakhapatnam, Kolkata and Delhi classes. Static GK: Project 15, 15A and 15B produced the Delhi, Kolkata and Visakhapatnam classes respectively. Official site: Ministry of Defence.
40. New IAF chief Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit set out his priorities under the acronym ‘VAYU’. What does ‘A’ stand for?
A. Air dominance
B. Aatmanirbharta
C. Agility
D. Airspace security
Answer: B. Aatmanirbharta
Explanation: VAYU stands for Vigilance and readiness, Aatmanirbharta (Tejas Mk1A/Mk2, AMCA), Yukti (strategy, including near-space and counter-drone capabilities) and Unity of effort. Static GK: the IAF’s motto ‘Nabha Sparsham Deeptam’ (‘Touch the sky with glory’) comes from the Bhagavad Gita. The IAF was founded on October 8, 1932.
Environment & Climate Change Current Affairs
41. Cyclone ‘Murasu’ is expected to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between which two places, with gusts of up to 120 km/h?
A. Visakhapatnam and Kalingapatnam
B. Nellore and Narsapur
C. Machilipatnam and Kakinada
D. Chennai and Nellore
Answer: B. Nellore and Narsapur
Explanation: The IMD expects landfall on Tuesday between Nellore and Narsapur. A red alert has been issued for SPSR Nellore, Prakasam, Guntur, Bapatla and Krishna districts, and the APSDMA has arranged 1,688 medical teams and 116 relief camps. Murasu comes soon after Cyclone Arnab, which killed five people and caused losses of about ₹4,600 crore. Static GK: cyclones in the North Indian Ocean are named from a list prepared by the WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones. Revise: Disaster management PYQs.
42. Under Delhi’s winter pollution curbs, which vehicles registered outside Delhi are barred from entering the city until January 31?
A. All diesel vehicles
B. Vehicles not meeting BS-VI norms
C. Vehicles older than 5 years
D. All two-wheelers
Answer: B. Vehicles not meeting BS-VI norms
Explanation: Only BS-VI-compliant vehicles with valid PUC certificates, and CNG and electric vehicles, are allowed in. On the first day, 714 vehicles were turned back. Static GK: India jumped from BS-IV straight to BS-VI emission norms on April 1, 2020. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) enforces the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in the NCR.
43. An oil spill washed up on the coast of Sharjah (UAE) from a tanker attacked near which strategic chokepoint?
A. Bab-el-Mandeb
B. Strait of Hormuz
C. Strait of Malacca
D. Suez Canal
Answer: B. Strait of Hormuz
Explanation: The spill came from a tanker attacked near the Strait of Hormuz amid the West Asia conflict. Static GK: the Strait of Hormuz links the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. About a fifth of the world’s oil trade passes through it.
Government Schemes Current Affairs
44. MNRE Minister Pralhad Joshi wrote that 65 lakh homes have rooftop solar under a scheme and 21 lakh of them now pay zero electricity bills. Which scheme is this?
A. PM-KUSUM
B. PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana
C. Saubhagya
D. UJALA
Answer: B. PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana
Explanation: Joshi also said more than 30 lakh solar pumps have been installed under PM-KUSUM for farmers. India’s solar capacity grew from 2.8 GW in 2014 to 171 GW, with tariffs as low as ₹2.15 per unit. India met its target of 50% non-fossil installed capacity five years early, the only G20 country to do so, and is aiming for 500 GW of non-fossil capacity by 2030. Static GK: PM Surya Ghar was launched in 2024 to give up to 300 units of free electricity a month to one crore households.
45. The Central Electricity Authority projects that India will need how much battery storage by 2031-32?
A. 36 GWh
B. 136 GWh
C. 236 GWh
D. 336 GWh
Answer: C. 236 GWh
Explanation: Joshi wrote that the CEA projects a need for 236 GWh of battery storage, and that phase III of the Green Energy Corridor will support 50 GWh with ₹50,000 crore. India’s solar module manufacturing capacity is over 225 GW and its cell capacity about 45 GW. The National Green Hydrogen Mission targets 5 MMT of green hydrogen a year by 2030. Khavda in Gujarat is described as the world’s largest hybrid renewable energy park.
46. Punjab’s anti-drug campaign, which entered its 606th day on October 29 with 88,979 alleged smugglers arrested, is called
A. Nasha Mukt Bharat
B. Yudh Nashian Virudh
C. Operation Sindoor
D. Mission Nishchay
Answer: B. Yudh Nashian Virudh
Explanation: ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ means ‘War against drugs’. The killing of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota in Mansa (October 13) has put the drug problem at the centre of debate ahead of the 2027 Assembly election, and a CBI probe has been ordered. Static GK: the Centre’s Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan was launched in 2020 by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
Reports & Indices Current Affairs
47. A study using the PLFS rounds of 2017-18 and 2023-24 found that India’s Decent Work Index (DWI) rose from 0.247 to
A. 0.267
B. 0.302
C. 0.411
D. 0.502
Answer: B. 0.302
Explanation: The DWI rose to 0.302, with manufacturing up from 0.324 to 0.411 and agriculture from 0.211 to 0.267. Unemployment fell from 6.1% to 3.2%. About 90% of workers are informal, according to the India Employment Report 2024 (ILO–IHD). Static GK: ‘decent work’ is an ILO concept and part of SDG 8. The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) is conducted by the NSO (MoSPI) and was started in 2017.
48. A PANJ Foundation report titled ‘State of Punjab: Data Story of 15 Years’ found that cannabis use in Punjab is the highest among 36 States/UTs. What share of the population uses it?
A. 2.8%
B. 6.6%
C. 12.55%
D. 25.5%
Answer: C. 12.55%
Explanation: Cannabis use, at 12.55% of the population, is 4.4 times the national rate. Opioid use is 4.7 times and cocaine use 6.6 times the national rate, and alcohol use about twice. Opioid dependence affects 1.28% of those aged 10–75. The report relies on the 2018 national survey, the only source that compares States using a uniform method.
49. Sri Lanka received a record 23.62 lakh foreign tourists in 2025. Which country sent the most, about 5.31 lakh?
A. China
B. United Kingdom
C. India
D. Russia
Answer: C. India
Explanation: Indians made up about 22.5% of Sri Lanka’s foreign tourists. For comparison, Kerala received 8.21 lakh foreign tourists in 2025.
Awards & Honours Current Affairs
50. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who was benched for most of the T20I series in New Zealand, won the Orange Cap as the highest run-scorer in which IPL season?
A. IPL 2024
B. IPL 2025
C. IPL 2026
D. He never won it
Answer: C. IPL 2026
Explanation: The 15-year-old from Bihar won the Orange Cap in IPL 2026. He was Player of the Series in Zimbabwe and had scored 175 off 80 balls in the Under-19 World Cup final against England in Harare. In the third T20I in Wellington, he and Abhishek Sharma scored 118 in the PowerPlay, the most ever in T20Is. Static GK: the Orange Cap goes to the IPL’s top run-scorer and the Purple Cap to its top wicket-taker.
Appointments & Resignations Current Affairs
51. Leander Paes has joined Chintan Parikh’s ‘Tennis First’ panel for the All India Tennis Association (AITA) elections on November 27. Which post will Paes contest?
A. President
B. Vice-President
C. Secretary-General
D. Treasurer
Answer: B. Vice-President
Explanation: Incumbent president Chintan Parikh is seeking re-election, and Paes, who is president of the West Bengal Tennis Association, will contest for vice-president. Static GK: Paes won 18 Grand Slam titles in doubles and mixed doubles, and an Olympic bronze in singles at Atlanta 1996.
52. China’s Fifth Plenum confirmed the removal of Zhang Youxia. Which post did he hold?
A. Premier of the State Council
B. Vice-Chairman of the Central Military Commission
C. Foreign Minister
D. Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee
Answer: B. Vice-Chairman of the Central Military Commission
Explanation: Zhang Youxia, a CMC Vice-Chairman, was among the senior figures expelled in Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption purge, along with Ma Xingrui. General Zhang Shengmin is the only other serving CMC member besides Xi.
Sports Current Affairs
53. Who won the women’s singles title at the Hylo Open Super 500 badminton tournament in Saarbrücken, Germany?
A. Saina Nehwal
B. P.V. Sindhu
C. Malvika Bansod
D. Anupama Upadhyaya
Answer: B. P.V. Sindhu
Explanation: Sindhu beat world No. 25 Line Højmark Kjærsfeldt of Denmark 21-12, 21-14 in a 39-minute final. She earned 9,200 ranking points, which strengthens her bid for the World Tour Finals, and had earlier won the Japan Open in July. Static GK: Sindhu won Olympic silver in Rio 2016 and bronze in Tokyo 2020, and became World Champion in Basel in 2019. Official site: BWF.
54. Lakshya Sen won the men’s singles title at the Hylo Open, ending his title drought. Whom did he beat in the final?
A. Viktor Axelsen
B. Jonatan Christie
C. Kodai Naraoka
D. Shi Yuqi
Answer: B. Jonatan Christie
Explanation: Lakshya beat Indonesia’s Jonatan Christie 21-17, 21-10, though he had a 3-4 head-to-head record against him before the final. India won both singles titles on the same day.
55. Glenn Phillips set a record for the most runs in a bilateral T20I series, scoring 341 against India. Whose record did he break?
A. Virat Kohli
B. Phil Salt
C. Babar Azam
D. Suryakumar Yadav
Answer: B. Phil Salt
Explanation: England’s Phil Salt had scored 331 against the West Indies in 2023. New Zealand won the fifth T20I by seven wickets (Tim Seifert 93, Adam Milne 4/19), but India took the series 3-2. It was Shreyas Iyer’s first series win as captain in a SENA country. A five-match ODI series begins on November 4 in Auckland.
56. At the Asian Champions Trophy hockey in Jalandhar, India beat Malaysia 4-2 to stay the only unbeaten side. Who scored a hat-trick for India?
A. Sukhjeet Singh
B. Harmanpreet Singh
C. Abhishek
D. Mandeep Singh
Answer: B. Harmanpreet Singh
Explanation: Harmanpreet Singh scored from two penalty corners and a penalty stroke, and Sukhjeet Singh scored the fourth goal. Japan and Korea completed the semi-final line-up. The match was played at the Olympian Surjeet Stadium, Jalandhar, and India’s coach is Craig Fulton. Revise: Sports PYQs.
57. Manav Thakkar won his first international men’s singles title at the WTT Feeder event in which city?
A. Bengaluru
B. Chennai
C. Indore
D. Panchkula
Answer: B. Chennai
Explanation: Top seed Manav came back from two games down to beat England’s Samuel Walker 6-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-3, 11-8. India’s Sutirtha Mukherjee lost the women’s final to South Korea’s Yoo Yerin. G. Sathiyan and Harmeet Desai won the men’s doubles title. The event was held at the Tamil Nadu Physical Education and Sports University near Chennai.
58. India won both the men’s and women’s titles at the inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship, held in which city?
A. Hyderabad
B. Ahmedabad
C. Patna
D. Pune
Answer: B. Ahmedabad
Explanation: The finals were played at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex, Ahmedabad. India’s women beat Uganda 35-15, and the men beat Sri Lanka 54-20, with Aditya Shinde scoring a Super 10. Separately, the International Kabaddi Federation (IKF), led by president Kasani Gnaneshwar, held its first Executive Committee meeting in Hyderabad. It plans a Kabaddi World Cup and an eight-team women’s league, and wants kabaddi in the 2030 Commonwealth Games and the 2036 Olympics. 62 new countries have joined the IKF.
59. Carlos Alcaraz beat Alex de Minaur 6-1, 6-4 to win which title, his 28th overall?
A. Paris Masters
B. Vienna Open
C. Basel Open
D. Shanghai Masters
Answer: B. Vienna Open
Explanation: It was Alcaraz’s fourth title of the year, which included the Australian Open that completed his career Grand Slam. He has now beaten de Minaur in all seven of their meetings.
60. Marc Marquez moved to the brink of his eighth world title by winning the Malaysian MotoGP. On which circuit is it held?
A. Sepang
B. Buriram
C. Mandalika
D. Losail
Answer: A. Sepang
Explanation: The Ducati rider leads with 399 points, ahead of Martin (355) and Marco Bezzecchi (332), with three race weekends left. Static GK: the Sepang International Circuit is near Kuala Lumpur. India’s Buddh International Circuit (Greater Noida) hosted the MotoGP Bharat in 2023.
61. Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez regained the WBC title in which weight category by beating Christian Mbilli in Riyadh?
A. Middleweight
B. Super middleweight
C. Light heavyweight
D. Cruiserweight
Answer: B. Super middleweight
Explanation: The 36-year-old Mexican won a 12-round decision. Separately, Indian lifter Usha topped Group D of the women’s 61 kg event at the IWF World Championships in Ningbo, China, with a total of 212 kg (93 + 119), and finished third overall.
Books & Authors Current Affairs
62. Which author wrote ‘Patel: A Life’, a biography of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel that has been reprinted by Aleph?
A. Ramachandra Guha
B. Rajmohan Gandhi
C. R.N.P. Singh
D. P.N. Chopra
Answer: B. Rajmohan Gandhi
Explanation: The book was first published by Navajivan in 1991. Other works discussed alongside it are R.N.P. Singh’s ‘Sardar Patel: Unifier of Modern India’, which compares Patel with Bismarck, and P.N. Chopra’s 15-volume ‘The Collected Works of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’. As Home Minister, Patel banned the RSS after Gandhi’s assassination and lifted the ban once it agreed to respect the tricolour. Static GK: Patel integrated more than 500 princely states, and his birth anniversary (October 31) is Rashtriya Ekta Diwas. Revise: Books & literature PYQs.
Important Days & Themes Current Affairs
63. Haryana Foundation Day is celebrated on November 1. In which year was the State carved out of Punjab?
A. 1956
B. 1960
C. 1966
D. 1971
Answer: C. 1966
Explanation: Haryana was formed on November 1, 1966 under the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966, and Chandigarh became a Union Territory and the shared capital. November 1 is also Delhi’s Foundation Day, and the day on which several States were reorganised on linguistic lines in 1956.
64. Mexico’s ‘Day of the Dead’ (Día de Muertos) festival, marked by marigolds and ‘catrina’ skeleton costumes, peaks on which dates?
A. October 30–31
B. November 1–2
C. November 8–9
D. December 1–2
Answer: B. November 1–2
Explanation: On November 1 and 2, the souls of the dead are believed to return to visit their families. Orange cempasúchil (Mexican marigold) flowers are said to light their way. The parade in Mexico City was first created for the 2015 James Bond film ‘Spectre’. Static GK: UNESCO lists the festival as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Summits & Conferences Current Affairs
65. The Bharat Renewable Energy Summit & Expo 2026 (November 2–5, Bharat Mandapam) is hosting the Fourth International Conference on Green Hydrogen and which edition of the International Solar Alliance Assembly?
A. Seventh
B. Eighth
C. Ninth
D. Tenth
Answer: C. Ninth
Explanation: This is the first time the ISA Assembly and the green hydrogen conference are being held together. MNRE Minister Pralhad Joshi is President of the ISA Assembly. Static GK: India and France launched the ISA at COP21 in Paris in 2015, and its headquarters is in Gurugram. It has 130 signatory and member countries and runs a $200-million Africa Solar Facility with Africa50. The African Union became a permanent member of the G20 during India’s presidency in 2023. Official site: International Solar Alliance.
66. The U.S. midterm elections are on November 3. For the first time since 2002, which organisation was not invited to send election observers?
A. UN Electoral Assistance Division
B. OSCE
C. European Parliament
D. Carter Center
Answer: B. OSCE
Explanation: The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) was not invited. All 435 House seats and 35 Senate seats are being contested, and the new Congress will be seated on January 3, 2027. 26 States have automatic recount laws. Gary King’s (Harvard) ‘ElectIt’ model projects about 230 House seats for the Democrats.
Apps, Portals & Digital Initiatives Current Affairs
67. Which of these is NOT one of the reforms listed by Mumbai Port Authority Chairman M. Angamuthu to make India attractive to global cruise lines?
A. e-group visit visas
B. QR code-based immigration clearance
C. Digitised customs
D. Abolition of GST on cruise tickets
Answer: D. Abolition of GST on cruise tickets
Explanation: He listed e-group visit visas, simplified shore leave passes, QR code-based immigration clearance and digitised customs. Global operators such as MSC Cruises say a competitive tax framework for cruises in Indian waters is still the most important reform. The Mumbai cruise terminal is also adding an experience centre with dining and shopping.
Persons in News Current Affairs
68. Who is the current Chief Justice of India, who spoke at the Kerala High Court’s platinum jubilee about High Court pendency?
A. Sanjiv Khanna
B. B.R. Gavai
C. Surya Kant
D. D.Y. Chandrachud
Answer: C. Surya Kant
Explanation: Chief Justice Surya Kant noted that 65.5 lakh cases are pending in the High Courts and 97,201 in the Supreme Court. Static GK: the CJI is appointed by the President under Article 124(2), usually on the principle of seniority.
69. Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk dedicated Chorten No. 76 to PM Narendra Modi under ‘Project 108’. Why was the number 76 chosen?
A. India’s 76th Republic Day
B. PM Modi turned 76
C. 76 years of India–Bhutan ties
D. It was the 76th chorten built
Answer: B. PM Modi turned 76
Explanation: About 40,000 volunteers built 108 Jangchub Chortens (stupas), each 15 m tall and 108 m apart, along the Mau Chhu river in nine hours (3 a.m. to noon). The project lays the spiritual foundation of the Gelephu Mindfulness City. Chorten No. 76 marks India’s support for the city, and the number was chosen because Modi turned 76 a little over a month ago. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju represented India. Static GK: Gelephu is about 240 km south-south-east of Thimphu and borders Assam’s Chirang district.
Places in News Current Affairs
70. Six Indian tourists were stranded in the Shey-Phoksundo National Park after bad weather. In which country is this park?
A. Bhutan
B. Nepal
C. India (Sikkim)
D. China (Tibet)
Answer: B. Nepal
Explanation: Shey-Phoksundo is Nepal’s largest national park and lies mainly in Dolpa district. It is home to Phoksundo Lake. Separately, eight trekkers went missing on the Kedartal trek, which starts from Gangotri in Uttarakhand.
71. Odisha has identified 150 landslide-prone sites in which district as Cyclone Murasu approaches?
A. Koraput
B. Gajapati
C. Kandhamal
D. Ganjam
Answer: B. Gajapati
Explanation: Odisha is preparing for heavy rain in Gajapati district, which has 150 landslide-prone sites. Static GK: Gajapati district is in southern Odisha, borders Andhra Pradesh and lies in the Eastern Ghats.
Art & Culture Current Affairs
72. Ramanuja’s ‘Sri Bhashya’, discussed in The Hindu’s Faith column on Hayagreeva worship, is a commentary on which text?
A. Bhagavad Gita
B. Brahma Sutras
C. Rig Veda
D. Tiruvaimozhi
Answer: B. Brahma Sutras
Explanation: The column also refers to Vedanta Desika’s ‘Paduka Sahasram’ and Nammazhwar’s ‘Tiruvaimozhi’. Static GK: Ramanuja (11th–12th century) founded Vishishtadvaita (qualified non-dualism). Vedanta Desika was a later Sri Vaishnava acharya, and Hayagreeva, the horse-headed form of Vishnu, is worshipped as the god of learning. Revise: Art & culture PYQs.
73. In an op-ed, Mini Krishnan notes that India’s national academy of letters was set up 72 years ago, with Jawaharlal Nehru as its first President. Name the academy.
A. Sangeet Natak Akademi
B. Lalit Kala Akademi
C. Sahitya Akademi
D. National Book Trust
Answer: C. Sahitya Akademi
Explanation: The piece also discusses Karan Singh’s translation of a Dogri poem by Padma Sachdev. Static GK: the Sahitya Akademi was founded on March 12, 1954 and recognises 24 languages for its awards. Dogri was added to the Eighth Schedule by the 92nd Amendment in 2003. Official site: Sahitya Akademi.
74. In Chennai’s annual music calendar, the Thyagaraja Aradhana honours the Carnatic composer Thyagaraja and is held at
A. Thanjavur
B. Thiruvaiyaru
C. Srirangam
D. Kanchipuram
Answer: B. Thiruvaiyaru
Explanation: A Business page feature on India’s concert economy mentions Chennai’s Margazhi season and the Thyagaraja Aradhana at Thiruvaiyaru. Static GK: Thyagaraja, Muthuswami Dikshitar and Syama Sastri are the ‘Trinity of Carnatic music’. Thiruvaiyaru, on the banks of the Cauvery, is where Thyagaraja attained samadhi.
Miscellaneous Current Affairs
75. In The Hindu’s ‘Know Your English’ column, what does the term ‘aisle lice’ describe?
A. Cabin crew who block the aisle
B. Passengers who rush to get off a plane before it stops
C. Pests found on aircraft
D. Travellers who swap seats
Answer: B. Passengers who rush to get off a plane before it stops
Explanation: ‘Aisle lice’ are passengers who stand up and crowd the aisle before the plane stops. ‘Gate lice’ crowd the boarding gate, and to ‘deplane’ means to get off a plane. An ‘airport divorce’ is when partners go their separate ways after security and meet again just before boarding.
76. The 13th Route du Rhum, a solo sailing race across the Atlantic held every four years, ends at which French overseas island?
A. Martinique
B. Guadeloupe
C. Réunion
D. New Caledonia
Answer: B. Guadeloupe
Explanation: 115 sailors are trying for the fastest solo Atlantic crossing, and the current record is six days and 19 hours. Static GK: the race starts at Saint-Malo in Brittany and was first held in 1978.
Also Read: Related PYQs & Notes
- Previous edition: Daily Current Affairs from The Hindu, 1st November 2026
- Polity: WBCS Mains Indian Polity – State Government PYQs
- Economy: WBCS Mains Indian Economy – National Income PYQs
- All editions: Daily Current Affairs category
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