Dear Readers, Daily Current Affairs Questions Quiz for SBI, IBPS, RBI, RRB, SSC Exam 2026 of 03rd November 2026. Daily GK quiz online for bank & competitive exam. Here we have given the Daily Current Affairs Quiz based on the previous days Daily Current Affairs updates. Candidates preparing for IBPS, SBI, RBI, RRB, SSC Exam 2026 & other competitive exams can make use of these Current Affairs Quiz.

 

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1)What was India's gross GST collection in October 2026, which recorded the second-highest monthly collection since the introduction of GST?

(a) ₹1.99 lakh crore

(b) ₹2.15 lakh crore

(c) ₹2.31 lakh crore

(d) ₹2.43 lakh crore

(e) ₹2.50 lakh crore

 

2)Which regulatory approval did Upstox receive from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to offer corporate bonds directly to investors?

(a) Investment Adviser Registration

(b) Portfolio Manager Registration

(c) Stock Broker Registration

(d) Online Bond Platform Provider (OBPP) Registration

(e) Depository Participant Registration

 

3)Which international financial institution approved a USD 139.55 million loan for the Puducherry Integrated Urban Livability Improvement Project (PIULIP)?

(a) World Bank

(b) Asian Development Bank

(c) International Monetary Fund

(d) Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank

(e) New Development Bank

 

4)Which two states faced drought conditions that raised concerns over a possible decline in domestic cotton production during the 2026–27 cotton season?

(a) Gujarat and Rajasthan

(b) Madhya Pradesh and Odisha

(c) Punjab and Haryana

(d) Telangana and Andhra Pradesh

(e) Maharashtra and Karnataka

 

5)Which depository was penalised ₹1 crore by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on 30 October 2026 for regulatory and compliance violations?

(a) National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL)

(b) Central Depository Services (India) Limited (CDSL)

(c) National Stock Exchange (NSE)

(d) Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE)

(e) Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)

 

6)Which tourist attraction in the UAE became the first to accept UPI payments for online bookings?

(a) Dubai Frame

(b) Ferrari World Abu Dhabi

(c) At the Top, Burj Khalifa

(d) Louvre Abu Dhabi

(e) Palm Jumeirah

 

7)What is the coal production target fixed by Coal India Limited (CIL) for FY 2026–27?

(a) 768 MT

(b) 790 MT

(c) 800 MT

(d) 815 MT

(e) 850 MT

 

8)Who released the commemorative postage stamps and picture postcards dedicated to breast cancer awareness by the Department of Posts?

(a) J. P. Nadda and Manisha Sinha

(b) Punya Salila Srivastava and Manisha Sinha

(c) Punya Salila Srivastava and Anupriya Patel

(d) Smriti Irani and Manisha Sinha

(e) Punya Salila Srivastava and Prataprao Jadhav

 

9)Who will chair the National Social Security Boards for Unorganised Workers and Gig and Platform Workers constituted under the Code on Social Security, 2020?

(a) J. P. Nadda

(b) Ashwini Vaishnaw

(c) Bhupender Yadav

(d) Prataprao Jadhav

(e) Mansukh Mandaviya

 

10)What is the meaning of the name ‘Murasu’, the cyclone that intensified over the Bay of Bengal on 1 November 2026?

(a) War drum

(b) Thunderstorm

(c) Strong wind

(d) Ocean wave

(e) Heavy rainfall

 

11)Which police force received the prestigious President’s Colour during its 60th Raising Day and Diamond Jubilee celebrations?

(a) Punjab Police

(b) Haryana Police

(c) Chandigarh Police

(d) Delhi Police

(e) Himachal Pradesh Police

 

12)How many Indian states observe their formation day on 1 November every year?

(a) Five

(b) Six

(c) Seven

(d) Eight

(e) Nine

 

13)According to the World Bank’s October 2026 report, from what percentage to what percentage did India's extreme poverty rate decline between 2011 and 2023?

(a) 27.1% to 2.6%

(b) 57.7% to 16.1%

(c) 25.5% to 5.2%

(d) 14.2% to 12.1%

(e) 30.1% to 4.5%

 

14)Who has been appointed as the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA)?

(a) Dr. Bijay Kumar Mohanty

(b) Rajesh Kumar Mediratta

(c) Pradip Kumar Das

(d) Sandeep Kumar Gupta

(e) Jatin Kumar Nayak

 

15)Who has assumed charge as the 55th Director General of the Geological Survey of India (GSI)?

(a) Dinesh Vitthalrao Ganvir

(b) Jatin Kumar Nayak

(c) S. K. Hota

(d) V. L. Kantha Rao

(e) P. K. Mishra

 

16)Who assumed charge as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) of the Eastern Air Command of the Indian Air Force on 1 November 2026?

(a) Air Marshal Mehtab Singh Deswal

(b) Air Marshal Inderpal Singh Walia

(c) Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari

(d) Air Marshal Sandeep Singh

(e) Air Marshal B. Manikantan

 

17)Who won the fifth Rohini Nayyar Prize for Outstanding Contribution to Rural Development?

(a) Amitabh Kant

(b) Prashant Chaudhary

(c) Kailash Satyarthi

(d) Anil Pradhan

(e) Sonam Wangchuk

 

18)Who won the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) Broadcast Engineering Excellence Award 2026 for contributions to broadcast technology and innovation?

(a) Prashant Chaudhary

(b) Jatin Kumar Nayak

(c) Amitabh Kant

(d) Dinesh Vitthalrao Ganvir

(e) Nongmaithem Nandakumar Singh

 

19)The 6th BIMSTEC Summit, which preceded the inaugural BIMSTEC Maritime Security Exercise, was held in which country?

(a) Bangladesh

(b) India

(c) Sri Lanka

(d) Thailand

(e) Myanmar

 

20)Which Indian Naval Ship (INS) visited Souda Bay in Greece on 31 October 2026 during its deployment to the Mediterranean Sea?

(a) INS Vikrant

(b) INS Trikand

(c) INS Trishul

(d) INS Chennai

(e) INS Talwar

 

21)Which launch vehicle was used by ISRO to launch the NVS-03 next-generation navigation satellite on 30 October 2026?

(a) PSLV-C60

(b) GSLV-F18

(c) LVM3-M5

(d) SSLV-D4

(e) GSLV-F16

 

22)How many private space-sector companies were selected by IN-SPACe for seed-fund grants under its AI INSPIRED programme?

(a) Four

(b) Five

(c) Six

(d) Seven

(e) Eight

 

23)Which Ultraluminous X-ray Source (ULX) was investigated by astronomers to study its changing X-ray behaviour using observations collected over 24 years?

(a) NGC 300 ULX-1

(b) M82 X-2

(c) NGC 4490 ULX-8

(d) Holmberg II X-1

(e) NGC 1313 X-1

 

24)Who became the youngest Formula One (F1) World Drivers’ Champion in history at the age of 20 in 2026?

(a) Max Verstappen

(b) Lewis Hamilton

(c) Lando Norris

(d) Charles Leclerc

(e) Kimi Antonelli

 

25)Where was the inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship held, in which both Indian men’s and women’s teams won gold medals?

(a) New Delhi, India

(b) Ahmedabad, Gujarat

(c) Jaipur, Rajasthan

(d) Chandigarh, India

(e) Pune, Maharashtra

 

26)Recently, Veteran BJP Leader and Former Rajya Sabha MP Ravindra Kishore Sinha Passed away at 75. In which year was Ravindra Kishore Sinha (R.K. Sinha) elected to the Rajya Sabha from Bihar?

(a) 2010

(b) 2012

(c) 2014

(d) 2016

(e) 2018

 

27)On which date is World Vegan Day observed annually to promote veganism and a vegan lifestyle?

(a) 29 October

(b) 30 October

(c) 31 October

(d) 1 November

(e) 2 November

 

28)In news, GST refunds increased by 6.5% YoY to ₹27,934 crore in October 2026. What was the net GST collection in India in October 2026 after adjusting for refunds?

(a) ₹1.61 lakh crore

(b) ₹1.85 lakh crore

(c) ₹2.03 lakh crore

(d) ₹2.31 lakh crore

(e) ₹2.43 lakh crore

 

29)As of 2026, SEBI introduced the stock exchange registration framework for OBPPs to regulate online platforms offering debt securities to investors. What is the minimum investment required to purchase corporate bonds through Upstox?

(a) ₹500

(b) ₹1,000

(c) ₹2,000

(d) ₹5,000

(e) ₹10,000

 

30)How many member countries does the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have?

(a) sixty-five

(b) sixty-seven

(c) sixty-nine

(d) seventy-one

(e) seventy-three

 

Answers:

1)Answer: C

Short Explanation:

India’s Gross Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections increased by approximately 23% year-on-year (YoY) to over ₹2.31 lakh crore in October 2026, recording the second-highest monthly collection since the introduction of GST.

The October 2026 GST growth rate of 22.9% was the fastest monthly growth recorded in FY 2026–27, supported by festive-season purchases and strong domestic demand.

October marked the second consecutive month in which gross GST collections crossed ₹2 lakh crore.

The highest-ever monthly GST collection remains approximately ₹2.43 lakh crore, recorded in April 2026.

Detailed Explanation:

India’s Gross Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections increased by approximately 23% year-on-year (YoY) to over ₹2.31 lakh crore in October 2026, recording the second-highest monthly collection since the introduction of GST.

The October 2026 GST growth rate of 22.9% was the fastest monthly growth recorded in FY 2026–27, supported by festive-season purchases and strong domestic demand.

October marked the second consecutive month in which gross GST collections crossed ₹2 lakh crore.

The highest-ever monthly GST collection remains approximately ₹2.43 lakh crore, recorded in April 2026.

GST revenue from domestic sales increased by approximately 16% YoY to over ₹1.59 lakh crore, reflecting stronger domestic economic activity.

GST revenue from imports rose by approximately 42% YoY to ₹72,246 crore, indicating a sharp increase in tax receipts from imported goods.

The total gross GST collection of over ₹2.31 lakh crore comprised Central GST (CGST) of ₹42,935 crore, State GST (SGST) of ₹51,340 crore and Integrated GST (IGST) of over ₹1.37 lakh crore.

 

2)Answer: D

Short Explanation:

Upstox (Upstox Securities Private Limited) received approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to operate as an Online Bond Platform Provider (OBPP).

The approval enables Upstox to offer corporate bonds directly to investors through its own platform without relying on third-party partnerships.

Earlier, Upstox offered bonds through a partnership with IndiaBonds, which will be replaced by its direct bond-distribution arrangement.

Detailed Explanation:

Upstox (Upstox Securities Private Limited) received approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to operate as an Online Bond Platform Provider (OBPP).

The approval enables Upstox to offer corporate bonds directly to investors through its own platform without relying on third-party partnerships.

Earlier, Upstox offered bonds through a partnership with IndiaBonds, which will be replaced by its direct bond-distribution arrangement.

With this approval, Upstox joins major brokerage firms such as Groww, Zerodha and Angel One in the fixed-income investment segment.

SEBI introduced the stock exchange registration framework for OBPPs to regulate online platforms offering debt securities to investors.

3)Answer: B

Short Explanation:

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a USD 139.55 million loan for the Puducherry Integrated Urban Livability Improvement Project (PIULIP).

The project marks ADB’s first engagement in the Union Territory (UT) of Puducherry.

The project aims to improve urban livability through climate-resilient water supply, sewerage and sanitation infrastructure, modernised public spaces and strengthened municipal governance and service delivery.

Water Supply Infrastructure: The project will upgrade 100 km of existing water supply networks and lay 80 km of new pipelines.

Detailed Explanation:

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a USD 139.55 million loan for the Puducherry Integrated Urban Livability Improvement Project (PIULIP).

The project marks ADB’s first engagement in the Union Territory (UT) of Puducherry.

The project aims to improve urban livability through climate-resilient water supply, sewerage and sanitation infrastructure, modernised public spaces and strengthened municipal governance and service delivery.

Water Supply Infrastructure: The project will upgrade 100 km of existing water supply networks and lay 80 km of new pipelines.

The project will also construct new overhead service reservoirs, establish district metered areas (DMAs) and develop brackish-water reverse osmosis (RO) desalination plants.

Sewerage Infrastructure: The project plans to construct 270 km of underground sewer networks, rehabilitate 80 km of existing sewer networks and establish a sewage treatment plant with a capacity of 50 million litres per day (MLD).

Urban Infrastructure: The project will develop 4.5 km of pedestrian walkways accessible to persons with disabilities.

 

4)Answer: E

Short Explanation:

The Government of India extended the customs duty exemption on cotton imports by two months, until 31 December 2026, to ensure adequate raw cotton availability for the domestic textile industry.

The earlier exemption was scheduled to expire on 31 October 2026. The Finance Ministry extended it through an official notification.

The 11% customs duty on cotton imports, which had been removed from 1 June to 31 October 2026, will remain exempt until 31 December 2026.

The extension comes amid concerns over a possible decline in domestic cotton production during the 2026–27 cotton season, due to reduced acreage and drought conditions in key producing states such as Maharashtra and Karnataka.

Detailed Explanation:

The Government of India extended the customs duty exemption on cotton imports by two months, until 31 December 2026, to ensure adequate raw cotton availability for the domestic textile industry.

The earlier exemption was scheduled to expire on 31 October 2026. The Finance Ministry extended it through an official notification.

The 11% customs duty on cotton imports, which had been removed from 1 June to 31 October 2026, will remain exempt until 31 December 2026.

The decision aims to improve cotton availability, meet the demand for specialised cotton varieties and support value addition across the textile and apparel value chain.

The extension comes amid concerns over a possible decline in domestic cotton production during the 2026–27 cotton season, due to reduced acreage and drought conditions in key producing states such as Maharashtra and Karnataka.

Daily raw cotton arrivals were estimated at 70,000–80,000 bales, with each bale weighing 170 kg, below trade expectations.

Cumulative cotton arrivals up to 23 October 2026 stood at 15 lakh bales, compared with estimated consumption of 23 lakh bales, according to CotYarn estimates.

The duty exemption will help textile mills import cotton at competitive prices, reduce raw material costs and improve the competitiveness of Indian textile and apparel exports.

The extension is also expected to put downward pressure on domestic cotton prices, which had rebounded in recent weeks.

 

5)Answer: B

Short Explanation:

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) imposed a penalty of ₹1 crore on Central Depository Services (India) Limited (CDSL) on 30 October 2026 for multiple regulatory and compliance violations.

The penalty followed SEBI’s inspection of CDSL’s operations for Financial Year 2023–24 (FY 2023–24).

SEBI directed CDSL to pay the penalty within 45 days, failing which recovery proceedings may be initiated.

Detailed Explanation:

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) imposed a penalty of ₹1 crore on Central Depository Services (India) Limited (CDSL) on 30 October 2026 for multiple regulatory and compliance violations.

The penalty followed SEBI’s inspection of CDSL’s operations for Financial Year 2023–24 (FY 2023–24).

SEBI directed CDSL to pay the penalty within 45 days, failing which recovery proceedings may be initiated.

One major violation was CDSL’s failure to communicate the reasons for rejection of pledge requests to the Depository Participants (DPs) of both the pledgor and pledgee.

Other violations included non-compliance with prescribed procedures for handling Client Unpaid Securities Accounts (CUSA) and inadequate measures to prevent unauthorised data transmission.

SEBI also identified shortcomings in CDSL’s disaster recovery operations and drills.

CDSL failed to fix identified cybersecurity vulnerabilities within the timelines prescribed by SEBI.

Its Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing (VAPT) exercise was found to be inadequate because it did not cover all domains and external applications.

 

6)Answer: C

Short Explanation:

NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL), the international arm of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), has enabled Unified Payments Interface (UPI) payments for online bookings at major tourist attractions in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Singapore.

In the UAE, UPI payments have been introduced at At the Top, Burj Khalifa, through a partnership between NIPL, NEOPAY and Emaar Entertainment.

At the Top, Burj Khalifa has become the first tourist attraction in the UAE to accept UPI for e-commerce transactions.

Detailed Explanation:

NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL), the international arm of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), has enabled Unified Payments Interface (UPI) payments for online bookings at major tourist attractions in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Singapore.

In the UAE, UPI payments have been introduced at At the Top, Burj Khalifa, through a partnership between NIPL, NEOPAY and Emaar Entertainment.

At the Top, Burj Khalifa has become the first tourist attraction in the UAE to accept UPI for e-commerce transactions.

The UPI partnership for the UAE was announced on 29 July 2026.

In Singapore, UPI acceptance has been expanded to Resorts World Sentosa through a partnership with FOMO Pay, a leading payment institution, announced on 9 September 2026.

 

7)Answer: D

Short Explanation:

Coal India Limited (CIL), under the Ministry of Coal, celebrated its 51st Foundation Day on 1 November 2026, marking the occasion with record- breaking achievements in coal production, total coal supply and supply to the power sector during October 2026.

CIL recorded its highest-ever monthly total coal supply of 70.3 million tonnes (MT) in October 2026, surpassing the previous record of 69.4 MT achieved in March 2026. This represented a 19% year-on-year growth.

Coal supply to the power sector reached an all-time monthly high of 57.1 MT in October 2026, exceeding the previous record of 56.5 MT recorded in May 2024. The supply registered 19% year-on-year growth.

The coal production target for FY 2026–27 has been fixed at 815 MT.

Detailed Explanation:

Coal India Limited (CIL), under the Ministry of Coal, celebrated its 51st Foundation Day on 1 November 2026, marking the occasion with record- breaking achievements in coal production, total coal supply and supply to the power sector during October 2026.

CIL recorded its highest-ever monthly total coal supply of 70.3 million tonnes (MT) in October 2026, surpassing the previous record of 69.4 MT achieved in March 2026. This represented a 19% year-on-year growth.

Coal supply to the power sector reached an all-time monthly high of 57.1 MT in October 2026, exceeding the previous record of 56.5 MT recorded in May 2024. The supply registered 19% year-on-year growth.

CIL achieved its highest-ever monthly coal production of 67.2 MT in October 2026, surpassing the previous record of 62.47 MT achieved in October 2024. Production also recorded 19% year-on-year growth.

Railway coal evacuation also registered record performance, with daily rake loading for the power sector reaching 310 rakes per day in October 2026. This exceeded the previous record of 302.8 rakes per day achieved in March 2025.

Coal India Limited was established on 1 November 1975. With the completion of 51 years, the company entered its 52nd year of service to the nation.

CIL's annual coal production increased from 79 MT during its first year of operations to 768 MT in Financial Year (FY) 2025–26, representing an almost tenfold increase over five decades.

The coal production target for FY 2026–27 has been fixed at 815 MT.

 

8)Answer: B

Short Explanation:

The Department of Posts released two commemorative postage stamps and a set of picture postcards dedicated to breast cancer awareness during International Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October).

The initiative aims to use India’s extensive postal network to spread awareness about breast cancer, early detection and preventive healthcare.

The stamps were released by Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava and Director General of Postal Services Manisha Sinha.

Detailed Explanation:

The Department of Posts released two commemorative postage stamps and a set of picture postcards dedicated to breast cancer awareness during International Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October).

The initiative aims to use India’s extensive postal network to spread awareness about breast cancer, early detection and preventive healthcare.

The stamps were released by Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava and Director General of Postal Services Manisha Sinha.

The initiative was conceptualised and implemented by the Department of Posts, with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare providing technical inputs, reference materials and background information for developing the health-related content of the stamps and postcards.

Srivastava highlighted the importance of women's health in building healthy families and a healthy nation. She referred to the Swasth Nari, Sashakt Parivar Abhiyaan, conducted from 17 September to 2 October 2025, which focused on women's health through screening and awareness initiatives.

According to the Union Health Secretary, India recorded more than 2 lakh new breast cancer cases in 2024, with an estimated one in every 29 women at risk of developing the disease.

 

9)Answer: E

Short Explanation:

The Ministry of Labour and Employment has notified the constitution of National Social Security Boards for Unorganised Workers and Gig and Platform Workers under the Code on Social Security, 2020, bringing these categories of workers within a statutory framework for welfare planning and monitoring.

The boards will recommend suitable social security schemes to the Central Government and monitor the implementation of centrally administered welfare schemes for unorganised, gig and platform workers.

The boards will be chaired by Union Minister of Labour and Employment Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya.

Detailed Explanation:

The Ministry of Labour and Employment has notified the constitution of National Social Security Boards for Unorganised Workers and Gig and Platform Workers under the Code on Social Security, 2020, bringing these categories of workers within a statutory framework for welfare planning and monitoring.

The boards will recommend suitable social security schemes to the Central Government and monitor the implementation of centrally administered welfare schemes for unorganised, gig and platform workers.

The boards will be chaired by Union Minister of Labour and Employment Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya.

Their membership will include representatives from:

Central and State Governments

Aggregator companies and employers

Civil society organisations

Workers’ unions

Associations of gig and platform workers

The initiative aims to address gaps in social security coverage among traditional unorganised workers and individuals engaged through digital platforms.

The boards will meet at least three times a year and follow the procedures prescribed by the Central Government for conducting their business.

 

10)Answer: A

Short Explanation:

A deep depression over the Bay of Bengal intensified into a cyclone named Murasu on 1 November 2026. The name Murasu means “war drum”.

The system is moving west-northwestwards and is expected to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal before crossing the south Andhra Pradesh coast.

The cyclone is expected to make landfall on the morning of 3 November 2026, between Nellore and Narsapur in Andhra Pradesh, with wind speeds reaching up to 120 kmph.

Detailed Explanation:

A deep depression over the Bay of Bengal intensified into a cyclone named Murasu on 1 November 2026. The name Murasu means “war drum”.

The system is moving west-northwestwards and is expected to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal before crossing the south Andhra Pradesh coast.

The cyclone is expected to make landfall on the morning of 3 November 2026, between Nellore and Narsapur in Andhra Pradesh, with wind speeds reaching up to 120 kmph.

The cyclone developed after Cyclone Arnab, as another weather system over the Bay of Bengal intensified and moved towards the south Andhra Pradesh coast.

Extremely heavy rainfall is forecast over coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam and Rayalaseema on 2–3 November, while Telangana is expected to receive heavy rainfall on 3 November. Heavy to extremely heavy rainfall is also likely over south coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema during the following three days.

The Odisha government expedited the evacuation of people from vulnerable areas on 2 November 2026 after the cyclone intensified into a severe cyclonic storm, according to officials.

 

11)Answer: C

Short Explanation:

Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah presented the prestigious President’s Colour to the Chandigarh Police during its 60th Raising Day and Diamond Jubilee celebrations at the Police Lines in Chandigarh.

The honour recognises the force’s contributions to maintaining law and order, combating terrorism and ensuring regional security.

He highlighted Chandigarh’s administrative significance, noting that since 1 November 1966, it has served as a Union Territory and the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana.

Detailed Explanation:

Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah presented the prestigious President’s Colour to the Chandigarh Police during its 60th Raising Day and Diamond Jubilee celebrations at the Police Lines in Chandigarh.

The honour recognises the force’s contributions to maintaining law and order, combating terrorism and ensuring regional security.

He highlighted Chandigarh’s administrative significance, noting that since 1 November 1966, it has served as a Union Territory and the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana.

Chandigarh also houses the constitutional institutions of both states, along with their respective Chief Ministers and senior government officials.

The Home Minister appreciated the coordination between the Chandigarh Police and the police forces of Punjab and Haryana in maintaining security across the tri-city region.

The Chandigarh Police has more than 6,000 personnel serving in different wings, including:

Crime Wing

Operations Cell

Security Wing

Traffic Police

Police Control Room (PCR)

 

12)Answer: D

Short Explanation:

1^st November marks the formation day of eight Indian states and five Union Territories, reflecting the evolution of India's federal structure through linguistic identities, historical developments and regional aspirations.

The eight states observing their formation day on 1 November are Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Tamil Nadu.

The five Union Territories are Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Delhi, Lakshadweep and Puducherry.

Detailed Explanation:

1^st November marks the formation day of eight Indian states and five Union Territories, reflecting the evolution of India's federal structure through linguistic identities, historical developments and regional aspirations.

The eight states observing their formation day on 1 November are Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Tamil Nadu.

The five Union Territories are Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Delhi, Lakshadweep and Puducherry.

Evolution of Southern States from the Madras Presidency:

The erstwhile Madras Presidency under British rule covered territories that now form parts of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Karnataka, besides parts of Odisha, Telangana and other neighbouring states. Its boundaries changed over time.

Andhra Pradesh: The Telugu-speaking districts were separated from Madras State, leading to the formation of Andhra State on 1 October 1953. On 1 November 1956, Andhra State was merged with the Telugu-speaking Telangana region of the erstwhile Hyderabad State under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, forming Andhra Pradesh. Hyderabad became its capital.

Karnataka: Kannada-speaking regions from the former princely state of Mysore and neighbouring administrative units were brought together to form Mysore State on 1 November 1956. It was renamed Karnataka in 1973.

Kerala: It was formed on 1 November 1956 by merging Travancore-Cochin with the Malabar district of Madras State and the Kasaragod area, consolidating Malayalam-speaking regions.

Tamil Nadu: The Tamil-speaking Madras State was renamed Tamil Nadu in 1969, formally recognising its Tamil identity.

 

13)Answer: A

Short Explanation:

The World Bank (WB) released its latest report titled “India Poverty and Equity Brief: October 2026”, highlighting India's significant progress in poverty reduction.

India's extreme poverty rate declined from 27.1% in 2011 to 2.6% in 2023, marking one of the fastest poverty reductions globally over the 12-year period.

According to the report, approximately 496 million people moved above the Lower-Middle-Income Country (LMIC) poverty threshold of USD 4.20 per day, measured using 2021 Purchasing Power Parity (PPP).

Detailed Explanation:

The World Bank (WB) released its latest report titled “India Poverty and Equity Brief: October 2026”, highlighting India's significant progress in poverty reduction.

India's extreme poverty rate declined from 27.1% in 2011 to 2.6% in 2023, marking one of the fastest poverty reductions globally over the 12-year period.

According to the report, approximately 496 million people moved above the Lower-Middle-Income Country (LMIC) poverty threshold of USD 4.20 per day, measured using 2021 Purchasing Power Parity (PPP).

The decline in poverty was mainly attributed to robust consumption growth, improved employment opportunities, particularly for women, and expanded social transfers, including food subsidies.

The proportion of India's population living below the LMIC poverty line of USD 4.20 per day declined from 57.7% to 16.1% during the period covered by the report.

The World Bank projected that poverty at the USD 4.20 per day threshold could decline from 14.2% in 2026 to 12.1% by 2028, although the pace of reduction is expected to slow.

 

14)Answer: E

Jatin Kumar Nayak has been appointed as the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA), a Navratna Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).

His appointment was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) through an order issued by the MNRE.

He succeeded Dr. Bijay Kumar Mohanty, who was holding the additional charge of CMD of IREDA.

 

15)Answer: A

Short Explanation:

Shri Dinesh Vitthalrao Ganvir has assumed charge as the 55th Director General of the Geological Survey of India (GSI), an attached office of the Ministry of Mines, Government of India.

He brings more than three decades of experience in geological investigations, mineral exploration, engineering geology and institutional leadership.

He joined the Geological Survey of India on 1 July 1994, after completing his Master’s degree in Geology from RTMNU University, Nagpur.

Detailed Explanation:

Shri Dinesh Vitthalrao Ganvir has assumed charge as the 55th Director General of the Geological Survey of India (GSI), an attached office of the Ministry of Mines, Government of India.

He brings more than three decades of experience in geological investigations, mineral exploration, engineering geology and institutional leadership.

He joined the Geological Survey of India on 1 July 1994, after completing his Master’s degree in Geology from RTMNU University, Nagpur.

During his career spanning over 32 years, he served in the Central Region, North-Eastern Region and Northern Region of GSI.

Before becoming Director General, he served as Additional Director General and Head of Department, Central Region, Nagpur, and also held the additional charge of National Mission Head-II.

His major scientific contributions include thematic mapping in the Western Bastar Craton and gold and diamond exploration in the Sakoli Fold Belt of Maharashtra.

 

16)Answer: A

Air Marshal Mehtab Singh Deswal, AVSM, VM assumed charge as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) of the Eastern Air Command (EAC) of the Indian Air Force (IAF) on 1 November 2026.

He was commissioned into the flying branch of the Indian Air Force as a fighter pilot on 14 June 1989.

He has accumulated over 3,200 hours of flying experience on various fighter aircraft.

 

17)Answer: B

Prashant Chaudhary, a technology educator from Dehradun, Uttarakhand, won the fifth Rohini Nayyar Prize for Outstanding Contribution to Rural Development.

Former Chief Executive Officer of NITI Aayog Amitabh Kant presented the award to Chaudhary in New Delhi on 31 October 2026.

The prize carries a cash award of ₹10 lakh, along with a citation and trophy. A jury comprising members from civil society, academia and government selected the winner.

Chaudhary is the founder of the CodeYogi Foundation, which aims to equip underserved young people in India with practical Artificial Intelligence (AI) and technology skills.

 

18)Answer: E

Short Explanation:

Nongmaithem Nandakumar Singh, an engineer from Prasar Bharati, won the prestigious Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) Broadcast Engineering Excellence Award 2026 for his contributions to broadcast technology and innovation.

His notable innovations include:

DDPlayout: An indigenous automated playout software adopted by multiple Doordarshan Kendras.

DDSlowMo: A cost-effective slow-motion replay system used during national-level sporting events.

Detailed Explanation:

Nongmaithem Nandakumar Singh, an engineer from Prasar Bharati, won the prestigious Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) Broadcast Engineering Excellence Award 2026 for his contributions to broadcast technology and innovation.

His notable innovations include:

DDPlayout: An indigenous automated playout software adopted by multiple Doordarshan Kendras.

DDSlowMo: A cost-effective slow-motion replay system used during national-level sporting events.

The award was presented by the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU), a regional organisation comprising approximately 224 broadcasting and media organisations across 66 countries.

The 63rd ABU General Assembly and Associated Meetings are being held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, from 30 October to 3 November 2026.

The five-day gathering brings together broadcasters, media leaders, engineers and industry experts for technical, programme and sports group meetings. It also includes the Broadcasting for All Forum, Media Leaders’ Forum and Super Panel.

 

19)Answer: D

Short Explanation:

The inaugural BIMSTEC Maritime Security Exercise is being conducted from 30 October to 3 November 2026 to strengthen maritime cooperation among the seven member countries.

BIMSTEC stands for Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation.

The seven BIMSTEC member countries are Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

The exercise aims to improve maritime security, interoperability, maritime domain awareness, operational coordination and the exchange of best practices among member states.

Detailed Explanation:

The inaugural BIMSTEC Maritime Security Exercise is being conducted from 30 October to 3 November 2026 to strengthen maritime cooperation among the seven member countries.

BIMSTEC stands for Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation.

The seven BIMSTEC member countries are Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

The exercise aims to improve maritime security, interoperability, maritime domain awareness, operational coordination and the exchange of best practices among member states.

The exercise builds on the outcomes of the 6th BIMSTEC Summit, held in Bangkok, Thailand, on 4 April 2025, under the theme “BIMSTEC: Prosperous, Resilient and Open”.

The summit adopted Bangkok Vision 2030, BIMSTEC’s first vision document, which provides a roadmap for regional cooperation.

The exercise reflects BIMSTEC’s commitment to “Translating Vision to Action” and the shared principle of “Shared Seas, Shared Security and Shared Prosperity”.

 

20)Answer: C

Short Explanation:

Indian Naval Ship (INS) Trishul visited Souda Bay, Greece, on 31 October 2026, during its ongoing deployment to the Mediterranean Sea.

The port call aims to strengthen maritime cooperation and professional ties between the Indian Navy and the Hellenic Navy (Greek Navy).

The crew will participate in professional discussions, cross-deck visits, cultural exchanges and interactions with senior officials of the Hellenic Navy and the Indian Embassy in Athens.

Detailed Explanation:

Indian Naval Ship (INS) Trishul visited Souda Bay, Greece, on 31 October 2026, during its ongoing deployment to the Mediterranean Sea.

The port call aims to strengthen maritime cooperation and professional ties between the Indian Navy and the Hellenic Navy (Greek Navy).

The crew will participate in professional discussions, cross-deck visits, cultural exchanges and interactions with senior officials of the Hellenic Navy and the Indian Embassy in Athens.

The crew will also familiarise themselves with facilities at Naval Support Activity (NSA) Souda Bay and the NATO Maritime Interdiction Operational Training Centre (NMIOTC).

 

21)Answer: B

Short Explanation:

Detailed Explanation:

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the NVS-03 next-generation navigation satellite aboard the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F18) on 30 October 2026.

The satellite was launched from the Second Launch Pad (SLP) of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

The GSLV-F18 mission marked the 20th flight of India's Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV).

The 2,250-kg NVS-03 satellite successfully separated from the launch vehicle and reached its intended elliptical Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) after approximately 18 minutes of flight.

NVS-03 is the third satellite in ISRO's second-generation navigation satellite series, developed to ensure continuity, improve availability and enhance the capabilities of India's indigenous NavIC navigation system.

The successful launch restored India's indigenous Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) system to its minimum operational configuration of four satellites.

 

22)Answer: C

Short Explanation:

The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), under the Department of Space (DoS), selected six private space-sector companies for seed-fund grants of up to ₹1 crore each under its AI INSPIRED programme.

AI INSPIRED stands for AI for INnovating Space Performance with Intelligent Resilient Engines Development and aims to promote Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based solutions in the Indian space sector.

The programme has a total funding outlay of up to ₹6 crore and supports start-ups and Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) in developing indigenous AI-based space technologies.

Detailed Explanation:

The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), under the Department of Space (DoS), selected six private space-sector companies for seed-fund grants of up to ₹1 crore each under its AI INSPIRED programme.

AI INSPIRED stands for AI for INnovating Space Performance with Intelligent Resilient Engines Development and aims to promote Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based solutions in the Indian space sector.

The programme has a total funding outlay of up to ₹6 crore and supports start-ups and Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) in developing indigenous AI-based space technologies.

The programme focuses on three key areas: Edge Intelligence in Orbit, Space for Earth Intelligence and Smart Access to Space.

The six selected companies and their respective areas of work are:

Agnikul Cosmos was selected for developing AI-based precision landing solutions.

Digantara was selected for space object evaluation and space surveillance.

EON Space Labs was selected for space debris detection.

OrbitAid Aerospace was selected for satellite servicing and refuelling technologies.

Omnipresent Robot Technologies was selected for automated target recognition for defence and docking.

TakeMeToSpace was selected for AI-based spacecraft autonomy and control.

 

23)Answer: C

Short Explanation:

Astronomers investigated the changing X-ray behaviour of NGC 4490 ULX-8, one of the brightest Ultraluminous X-ray Sources (ULXs) in a nearby galaxy, using observations collected over 24 years.

Ultraluminous X-ray Sources (ULXs) are extremely bright X-ray emitters found in nearby galaxies, excluding the emission from the supermassive black holes located at their centres.

ULXs are believed to be powered by compact objects such as neutron stars or black holes that attract matter from a companion star through a process known as accretion.

As the matter falls towards the compact object, it becomes extremely hot and releases intense X-ray radiation.

Detailed Explanation:

Astronomers investigated the changing X-ray behaviour of NGC 4490 ULX-8, one of the brightest Ultraluminous X-ray Sources (ULXs) in a nearby galaxy, using observations collected over 24 years.

Ultraluminous X-ray Sources (ULXs) are extremely bright X-ray emitters found in nearby galaxies, excluding the emission from the supermassive black holes located at their centres.

ULXs are believed to be powered by compact objects such as neutron stars or black holes that attract matter from a companion star through a process known as accretion.

As the matter falls towards the compact object, it becomes extremely hot and releases intense X-ray radiation.

ULXs can appear brighter than the maximum luminosity predicted by the Eddington limit, which describes the balance between the inward gravitational force and the outward pressure of radiation.

Understanding the compact objects powering ULXs is important for studying super-Eddington accretion, powerful gas outflows and the growth of compact objects in extreme environments.

 

24)Answer: E

Short Explanation:

Kimi Antonelli became the youngest Formula One (F1) World Drivers’ Champion in history at the age of 20, securing his maiden title after finishing third at the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix.

Antonelli achieved the milestone in only his second season in Formula One. He joined Mercedes in 2025, replacing seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.

He became the 36th different driver to win the Formula One World Drivers’ Championship. Among the previous 35 champions, 18 had won the title once, while 17 had secured at least one additional championship.

Detailed Explanation:

Kimi Antonelli became the youngest Formula One (F1) World Drivers’ Champion in history at the age of 20, securing his maiden title after finishing third at the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix.

Antonelli achieved the milestone in only his second season in Formula One. He joined Mercedes in 2025, replacing seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.

He broke the previous record held by Sebastian Vettel, who won his first F1 world championship in 2010 at the age of 23 years and 134 days.

Antonelli’s victory ended Italy’s 73-year wait for another Italian Formula One world champion. Italy had produced three of the first four F1 champions:

Giuseppe ‘Nino’ Farina won the inaugural championship with Alfa Romeo in 1950.

Alberto Ascari secured consecutive championships with Ferrari in 1952 and 1953.

He became the 36th different driver to win the Formula One World Drivers’ Championship. Among the previous 35 champions, 18 had won the title once, while 17 had secured at least one additional championship.

 

25)Answer: B

The Indian men’s and women’s kabaddi teams won gold medals at the inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship, held in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

The Indian men’s team defeated Sri Lanka 54–20 in the final to secure the gold medal.

The Indian women’s team also clinched gold after defeating Uganda 35–15 in the final.

With these victories, both Indian teams became champions of the maiden edition of the Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship, winning the titles on home soil.

 

26)Answer: C

Ravindra Kishore Sinha (R.K. Sinha), a veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, former Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament (MP) and entrepreneur, passed away at the age of 75 in Noida, Uttar Pradesh.

He was born on 22 September 1951 in Bahiyara village, Bhojpur district, Bihar.

He began his professional career as a journalist with a Hindi newspaper and worked as a war correspondent during the 1971 India–Pakistan War.

He was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Bihar in 2014 and served as a Member of Parliament until 9 April 2020.

 

27)Answer: D

World Vegan Day is observed annually on 1 November to promote veganism and encourage people to adopt a vegan lifestyle.

The date marks the anniversary of the establishment of The Vegan Society in 1944.

The organisation was founded by Donald Watson, who coined the term “vegan” in 1944.

 

28)Answer: C

GST refunds increased by 6.5% YoY to ₹27,934 crore in October 2026.

After adjusting for refunds, net GST collections increased by approximately 26% YoY to over ₹2.03 lakh crore, compared with over ₹1.61 lakh crore in October 2025.

During April–October 2026, gross GST collections grew by 13.2% YoY to over ₹14.77 lakh crore, while net GST collections increased by 13% to over ₹12.69 lakh crore.

Major states contributing to the continued strength in GST collections included Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

 

29)Answer: B

SEBI introduced the stock exchange registration framework for OBPPs to regulate online platforms offering debt securities to investors.

Since 2023, nearly 40 firms have received approval under the OBPP framework.

Investors can purchase corporate bonds through Upstox with a minimum investment starting at ₹1,000.

The platform offers bonds across different risk categories, with indicative returns ranging from 8% to 16%.

The initial bond offerings are expected to include securities rated between AAA and BBB-, subject to availability, with an emphasis on relatively lower-risk securities.

 

30)Answer: C

About ADB :

Formation : 19 December 1966

Headquarters : Mandaluyong, Metro Manila, Philippines

President : Masato Kanda

Members : 69 countries