National Current Affairs

The Ministry of Defence signed contracts worth Rs 53,866.50 crore with Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited and Goa Shipyard Limited for the acquisition of eight Next Generation Corvettes for the Indian Navy.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331418

The contracts were signed in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh at Kartavya Bhawan-2 in New Delhi on 2 November 2026.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331418

GRSE will construct five of the corvettes and GSL will construct the remaining three.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331418

It is the first project in which the ships will be indigenously designed by the Indian Navy and constructed by Defence Public Sector Undertakings selected through a competitive process.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331418

Construction is expected to generate about 72 lakh person-days of employment in the shipyards and 460 lakh person-days in ancillary industries and MSMEs over the next ten years.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331418

The Cabinet Committee on Security had accorded approval to the procurement proposal valued at about Rs 53,866.50 crore.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331727

The Next Generation Corvette project is the largest order ever secured by Goa Shipyard Limited in its history.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331727

The Prime Minister inaugurated the Bharat Renewable Energy Summit and Expo 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331789

The Summit coincided with the Ninth Assembly of the International Solar Alliance and included delegates from the Fourth Conference on Green Hydrogen.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331789

The Prime Minister urged startups, IITs, innovators and entrepreneurs to develop models that meet the maximum energy needs of a household through solar power.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331789

The Minister for New and Renewable Energy noted at the Summit that the International Monetary Fund has revised India's growth forecast for 2026-27 to 7 per cent.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331789

India's non-fossil fuel based installed capacity has risen from 80.3 GW to more than 310 GW over the last 12 years, a growth of 280 per cent.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331789

Solar capacity rose from 2.8 GW to 171 GW, an increase of 5,800 per cent, while wind capacity grew from 21 GW to 60 GW, a growth of 176 per cent.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331789

Solar module manufacturing capacity increased from 2 GW to 225 GW, a growth of 11,150 per cent, while solar cell manufacturing capacity rose from zero to 45 GW.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331789

The Prime Minister approved the Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana with an outlay of more than Rs 5,000 crore, under which 5,000 MW of floating solar capacity will be developed.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331789

The Prime Minister recently approved the Green Energy Corridor Phase-III with an investment of Rs 1.86 lakh crore.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331789

Green hydrogen is available in India at Rs 279 per kg and green ammonia at Rs 49.75 per kg, both the lowest prices globally.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331789

The Ministry of Rural Development notified the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Grievance Redressal Rules, 2026, which set up a structured, multi-tier and time-bound mechanism for grievances about the scheme's implementation.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331390

State Governments must set up the multi-tier grievance redressal mechanism at the Gram Panchayat, Block and District levels.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331390

The enquiry into a grievance must be completed within seven working days from the date of its receipt.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331390

A grievance must be resolved within 15 days from the date of its receipt.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331390

A grievance that remains unresolved within the prescribed period of 15 days is escalated to the next higher level of the mechanism set up by the State Government.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331390

Appeals are filed and disposed of in accordance with Schedule I to the VB-G RAM G Act, 2025.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331390

UPSC declared the final result of the Combined Defence Services Examination (I), 2026, with 243 candidates qualifying in three lists of 155, 63 and 25.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331786

The qualified candidates are for admission to the 162nd Direct Entry Course of the Indian Military Academy at Dehradun, the Indian Naval Academy at Ezhimala in Kerala, and the Air Force Academy at Hyderabad for the No. 221 F(P) pre-flying training course.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331786

The number of vacancies intimated by the Government is 100 for the Indian Military Academy, including 13 reserved for holders of the NCC C Certificate of the Army Wing, and 26 for the Indian Naval Academy at Ezhimala.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331786

The Commission had recommended 2601, 770 and 640 candidates as qualified in the written test for the Indian Military Academy, the Indian Naval Academy and the Air Force Academy respectively.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331786

The results of the medical examination have not been taken into account in preparing these lists.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331786

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India issued the Telecom Consumers Complaint Redressal (Fourth Amendment) Regulations, 2026.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331704

The amended regulations apply to Internet Service Providers having more than ten thousand subscribers as on the last day of the preceding financial year.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331704

The earlier alternative criterion based on annual financial turnover exceeding Rs 5 crore has been dispensed with, simplifying the applicability clause.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331704

Consumer support through Complaint Centres will be available round the clock on all days of the week, instead of the earlier 16 hour arrangement.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331704

The time limit for filing an appeal after a complaint is disposed of has been revised from 30 days to 15 days.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331704

Consumer feedback will be obtained on a five point scale ranging from Fully Satisfied at 5 points to Totally Dissatisfied at 1 point.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331704

The Ministry of Coal organised the Star Rating Awards Ceremony 2026 at Mayfair Lake Resort in Raipur, Chhattisgarh.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331781

A total of 50 mines across the country were honoured with Five-Star Rating Awards for coal and lignite mining, based on the assessment for the financial year 2024-25.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331781

The awardees comprise 15 underground mines and 35 opencast mines.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331781

Among the fifty, 10 mines secured the first, second and third positions in their respective categories with scores exceeding 93 per cent.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331780

The winners and runners-up of the Hackathon on R and D 2026 were recognised at the event for solutions under the theme NextGen AI for Smart Mining.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331780

From April to October 2026 Western Coalfields Limited was the only subsidiary of Coal India Limited to exceed its targets in all three key operational parameters, achieving 102.47 per cent of its production target, 108.82 per cent of its offtake target and 104.56 per cent of its overburden removal target.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331511

Coal production in October increased to 5.93 MT from 3.60 MT in the corresponding month last year, a growth of 64.87 per cent and the highest among major Coal India subsidiaries.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331511

Offtake during October rose to 6.67 MT against 4.44 MT in the corresponding month last year, a growth of 50.16 per cent.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331511

Pithead coal stock was reduced from 13.034 MT on 1 April 2026 to 4.44 MT on 31 October 2026, a liquidation of around 8.6 MT or about 66 per cent of the opening stock.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331511

The company loaded 6,146 rakes up to 31 October 2026 against 4,402 rakes in the corresponding period last year, an increase of 39.6 per cent.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331511

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship formally recognised 19 institutions as Centres of Excellence-Skills.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331775

The Certificates of Recognition were presented by Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, at Kaushal Bhawan in New Delhi.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331775

The recognition is valid from 9 October 2026 to 8 October 2029.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331775

The governing Guidelines were unveiled on 15 July 2026 by Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State with Independent Charge for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, during the World Youth Skills Day celebrations at Kaushal Bhawan in New Delhi.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331775

India has 18 notified Biosphere Reserves, including 13 recognised by UNESCO, spanning ecosystems from the Western Ghats to high altitude deserts and marine habitats.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331747

The International Day for Biosphere Reserves is observed annually on 3 November.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331747

India is one of the world's 17 mega-biodiverse countries and accounts for about 7 to 8 per cent of recorded species worldwide while occupying only 2.4 per cent of the Earth's land area.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331747

UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Programme was launched in 1971 to promote scientific approaches to improving relationships between people and their environment.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331747

UNESCO's Network of Biosphere Reserves comprises 797 biosphere reserves across 145 countries.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331747

Biosphere reserves cover about 5 per cent of the Earth's terrestrial surface yet sustain over 60 per cent of the world's terrestrial vertebrate species richness.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331747

The Ministry of Rural Development, jointly with the National Housing Bank, held the PMAY-G Reform Samvad, a one day stakeholder dialogue on reforms for strengthening rural housing under PMAY-G.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331804

The Samvad was held in Lonavala and brought together States, Housing Finance Companies, Small Finance Banks, Micro Finance Institutions and Regional Rural Banks to deliberate a roadmap for affordable institutional credit for rural housing.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331804

PMAY-G aims to complete 4.95 crore pucca houses by March 2029.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331804

The Indian Navy accorded a ceremonial welcome to INS Sudarshini on the successful completion of Lokayan 26, a ten month transoceanic sailing expedition, as the ship returned to Kochi on 2 November 2026.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331798

The voyage spanned over 22,000 nautical miles across the oceans.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331798

Lokayan 26 was flagged off from Kochi on 20 January 2026.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331798

The voyage included 17 distinct port calls in 11 countries, spanning Asia, Europe, Africa and North America.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331798

The Flag-in Ceremony was presided over by Vice Admiral Sameer Saxena, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Southern Naval Command.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331798

Astronomers have explained the changing X-ray behaviour of NGC 4490 ULX-8, one of the brightest X-ray emitters in a nearby galaxy, by tracking X-ray observations over a 24 year period.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331589

The observations were obtained with the Chandra, XMM-Newton and Swift space based X-ray telescopes between 2000 and 2024, making it one of the longest X-ray studies of this source to date.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331589

ULX-8 remained an exceptionally luminous X-ray source throughout the 24 year observing period while its brightness varied substantially over time.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331589

The results suggest that ULX-8 is most likely powered by a stellar mass black hole accreting matter at or near the Eddington limit.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331589

The study was authored by Tarang Vashisht, a student at IISER Mohali, Aru Beri of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, and researchers from IUCAA and the Raman Research Institute.

Sources: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2331589