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Stories
This week's most exam-worthy news. Tap a story for the exam angle.
This weekNov 26Oct 26Sep 26Aug 26Jul 26Jun 26May 26Apr 26
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Supreme Court names ex-CJI Gavai to head panel on forest rights claims in Agasthyamalai
Background fact, detailsBackground fact: The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act was passed in 2006
Details
On 6 November 2026 a Supreme Court bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta set up a committee headed by former Chief Justice of India B R Gavai for the protected areas of Tamil Nadu's Agasthyamalai landscape. It will scrutinise decisions under the Forest Rights Act, 2006 and supervise eviction and rehabilitation. The court also said people with only temporary residence in the forest, or living outside its boundary, cannot be treated as traditional forest dwellers under the Act merely for growing silk cotton there.
- On 6 November 2026 a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta appointed former CJI Bhushan R Gavai to chair a committee scrutinising Forest Rights Act, 2006 orders and supervising eviction and rehabilitation in the protected areas of the Agasthyamalai landscape in Tamil Nadu
- The court directed Tamil Nadu to constitute the remaining Gram Sabhas within 30 days
- Persons with temporary residence in the Agasthyamalai biosphere or living outside the forest boundary are excluded from consideration as forest dwellers under the Act merely for cultivating silk cotton in the forest
- The order follows a May 2026 judgment on eviction, rehabilitation and restoration in the landscape
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Government approves 12 more projects under electronics components scheme worth Rs 7,503 crore
The government approved 12 more projects, worth Rs 7,503 crore, to make electronic components inside India under the Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme.
Exam angle, detailsExam angle: Schemes for domestic electronics manufacturing are regular economy GK.
Details
The Ministry of Electronics and IT approved 12 new projects under the Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS) on 6 November 2026, with investments of Rs 7,503 crore. The biggest is a Rs 3,546 crore copper foil plant by Indo Asia Copper in Gujarat.
- MeitY approved 12 new projects under the Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS) on 6 November 2026
- The 12 projects entail investment of Rs 7,503 crore
- The largest is a Rs 3,546 crore copper foil plant by Indo Asia Copper Ltd in Gujarat
- ECMS incentives are turnover-linked and depend on companies starting production
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India and EU conclude talks on India joining Horizon Europe research programme
Background fact, detailsBackground fact: The European Commission is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium
Details
India and the European Commission said on 6 November 2026 that negotiations on India's association with Horizon Europe, the EU's flagship research and innovation programme, are complete. The agreement still has to be signed and cleared by both sides before Indian researchers can get funding directly.
- India and the European Commission concluded negotiations on India's association with Horizon Europe, announced on 6 November 2026
- Horizon Europe is the EU's flagship research and innovation programme, described as worth Euro 93.5 billion
- The association agreement must still be signed and the procedures completed by both sides
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Mahabharata, Arthashastra and Rajatarangini manuscripts join UNESCO Asia-Pacific memory register
Revise first UN and other international bodies were asked in CLAT 2022, 2023 and 2026
Three old Indian texts, the Mahabharata, the Arthashastra (a book on running a state) and the Rajatarangini (a history of Kashmir), were added to a UNESCO register of important documents for Asia and the Pacific.
Exam angle, detailsExam angle: Heritage and UNESCO lists are favourite static GK; Arthashastra is by Kautilya, Rajatarangini by Kalhana.
Details
Three Indian manuscripts, the Mahabharata, Kautilya's Arthashastra and Kalhana's Rajatarangini, were inscribed on UNESCO's Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Regional Register. The decision came at the 11th session of the regional committee (MOWCAP) held in Jakarta, Indonesia.
- Manuscripts of the Mahabharata, Arthashastra and Rajatarangini were inscribed on the Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Regional Register
- The inscription was decided at the 11th session of MOWCAP, the UNESCO Memory of the World committee for Asia and the Pacific, meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia
- The Rajatarangini manuscript is a 12th-century chronicle of Kashmir by Kalhana, held at the Oriental Research Library, Srinagar
- The Arthashastra is attributed to Kautilya (Chanakya) and is a treatise on governance and statecraft
- The nominations were prepared by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA)
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TRAI recommends new authorisation for satellite network providers
The telecom regulator TRAI suggested a new kind of licence for firms that run satellite networks and rent them to phone companies. The government must accept it before it takes effect.
Exam angle, detailsExam angle: Regulator roles and the Telecommunications Act, 2023 can be asked.
Details
The telecom regulator TRAI released recommendations on 5 November 2026 for a new Satellite Communication Network Provider authorisation under the Telecommunications Act, 2023. Such a licence holder would run the ground network and rent capacity to licensed telecom companies. The recommendations are not binding unless the Department of Telecommunications accepts them.
- TRAI released its recommendations on 5 November 2026
- It proposes a Satellite Communication Network (SCN) Provider authorisation under the Telecommunications Act, 2023
- The holder would run the ground segment and rent the network to licensed telecom companies, who sell the service to customers
- The recommendations are not binding and take effect only if the Department of Telecommunications accepts them
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India-US Tiger Triumph 2026 exercise ends at Visakhapatnam
India and the United States finished Tiger Triumph 2026, a joint military exercise held at Visakhapatnam to practise disaster relief and aid missions together.
Exam angle, detailsExam angle: Bilateral exercise names, partners and venues are common defence GK.
Details
The fifth edition of Tiger Triumph, the India-US bilateral tri-service exercise on humanitarian aid and disaster relief (HADR), ended at Visakhapatnam on 5 November 2026. It ran from 31 October and had a staff exercise and a tabletop exercise, with emphasis on joint amphibious operations.
- Tiger Triumph 2026 concluded on 5 November 2026 at Visakhapatnam
- It ran from 31 October to 5 November 2026
- It is a bilateral India-US tri-service exercise on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR)
- It was the fifth edition, according to the Defence Ministry release (PIB)
- It had a staff exercise (STAFFEX) and a tabletop exercise (TTX), with emphasis on joint amphibious operations
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Supreme Court: 24-hour clock to meet a magistrate starts at detention, not formal arrest
If the police detain you, the 24-hour limit to bring you before a magistrate starts at the moment of detention, not when they record an arrest, the Supreme Court said. Held longer, you must be released.
Exam angle, detailsExam angle: Article 22(2) and arrest safeguards are frequent polity and law questions.
Details
On 5 November 2026 the Supreme Court held that the 24-hour limit for producing a person before a magistrate begins when the person is detained, not when the arrest is formally recorded. The bench, headed by Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, rejected a distinction between detention and arrest and held that a person kept beyond 24 hours without production must be released.
- Judgment delivered on 5 November 2026 by a Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Ujjal Bhuyan
- The 24-hour period under Article 22(2) runs from the moment of detention, not formal arrest
- The Court rejected a detention versus arrest distinction drawn by some High Courts
- A person held beyond 24 hours without production before a magistrate must be released
- Only travel time from the place of arrest to the magistrate is excluded, as Article 22(2) itself provides
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Election Commission announces Special Summary Revision of rolls in six states and UTs
The Election Commission will update voter lists in six states and Union Territories, with draft lists on 30 November and final lists on 21 January 2027.
Exam angle, detailsExam angle: Election Commission roles and voter-roll processes are common polity questions.
Details
On 5 November 2026 the Election Commission announced a Special Summary Revision of electoral rolls in Arunachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Mizoram, Odisha and Sikkim. Draft rolls come out on 30 November 2026 and final rolls on 21 January 2027. The exercise aims to enrol eligible voters, especially young and first-time electors.
- Announced by the Election Commission on 5 November 2026
- Covers Arunachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Mizoram, Odisha and Sikkim
- Draft electoral rolls to be published on 30 November 2026
- Final rolls to be published on 21 January 2027
- Aims to enrol young and first-time voters and take advance applications from those turning eligible on 1 April, 1 July and 1 October 2027
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DRDO flight-tests Pralay quasi-ballistic missile off Odisha coast
Background fact, detailsBackground fact: Pralay is a short-range surface-to-surface missile developed by DRDO
Details
On 5 November 2026 DRDO successfully flight-tested the Pralay surface-to-surface quasi-ballistic missile from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast. The defence ministry said the test was part of user evaluation trials, met all its objectives and brought induction of the system closer.
- Flight test held on 5 November 2026 from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast
- Pralay is an indigenous surface-to-surface quasi-ballistic missile
- Test was part of user evaluation trials and met all objectives, per range data from the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur
- Developed by Research Centre Imarat, Hyderabad, with other DRDO laboratories; Bharat Dynamics Limited produced the system
- Defence ministry said induction of the system has become imminent
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Supreme Court says two-child disqualification laws have lost relevance; refers Maharashtra provision to larger bench
The Supreme Court said laws that stop people with more than two children from holding local posts no longer make sense, since India's fertility rate (children per woman) has fallen. It sent the Maharashtra rule to a larger bench.
Exam angle, detailsExam angle: Two-child norms, Javed (2003) and Panchayat law are polity and legal GK.
Details
A Supreme Court bench headed by Justice P S Narasimha said on 4 November 2026 that laws penalising people for having more than two children have lost their relevance, because the fear of overpopulation behind them has faded as fertility has fallen. It referred the validity of a two-child disqualification under Maharashtra law to a larger bench. In 2003, in Javed v State of Haryana, the court had upheld such a disqualification for panchayat elections.
- Judgment of 4 November 2026 by a bench headed by Justice P S Narasimha
- Court said laws penalising more than two children have lost relevance as the fear of overpopulation behind them has faded
- India's total fertility rate has fallen from 3 (2003) to 1.9, below the replacement rate of 2.1
- Validity of the two-child disqualification under Maharashtra law referred to a larger bench
- Javed v State of Haryana (2003) had upheld Haryana's two-child disqualification for panchayat elections
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Supreme Court: anti-defection petitions must be decided quickly even if the Assembly has years left
The Supreme Court said that when a legislator is accused of breaking the anti-defection law, the Speaker must decide quickly, even if the Assembly's term has a long time left.
Exam angle, detailsExam angle: The Tenth Schedule and the Speaker's role are standard polity questions.
Details
On 4 November 2026 a Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant held that petitions under the anti-defection law (Tenth Schedule) must be decided expeditiously, and that a High Court should not refuse to direct a Speaker just because the Assembly has a long tenure left. It told the Madhya Pradesh Assembly Speaker to decide a pending disqualification petition within two months.
- Supreme Court order of 4 November 2026 by a bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana
- Tenth Schedule (anti-defection) petitions must be decided expeditiously
- A High Court should not decline directions to a Speaker merely because the Assembly's tenure is long
- Madhya Pradesh Assembly Speaker told to decide a petition pending since 2024 within two months
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INS Sahyadri reaches Japan for Malabar 2026 naval exercise
Indian warship INS Sahyadri reached Japan to join Malabar, a naval exercise with the United States, Japan and Australia, held 5 to 12 November 2026.
Exam angle, detailsExam angle: Malabar and the Quad navies are frequent international relations questions.
Details
The Indian Navy stealth frigate INS Sahyadri arrived at Yokosuka, Japan, on 4 November 2026 to take part in the multilateral exercise Malabar 2026 with the navies of India, Japan, the United States and Australia. The exercise runs from 5 to 12 November in waters near Japan.
- INS Sahyadri arrived at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, on 4 November 2026
- Malabar 2026 involves the navies of India, Japan, the United States and Australia
- Exercise scheduled for 5 to 12 November 2026 in waters south of the Kanto region, Japan
- Participation described as in line with India's MAHASAGAR vision
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Cabinet gives Agniveers a two-year second engagement; CDS announces
Revise first Government schemes and missions were asked in CLAT 2021, 2022 and 2026
The other 75% will now be offered two more years, and can then be enrolled as regular soldiers if they meet the selection criteria. The 25% still join the regular forces after four years.
Exam angle, detailsExam angle: Agnipath and defence reforms are frequent current affairs questions.
Details
On 4 November 2026 the Union Cabinet approved a change to the Agnipath scheme. As before, 25% of Agniveers are to be enrolled in the regular forces after four years. The other 75% will now be offered an additional two-year engagement, and after it willing Agniveers can be enrolled as regular soldiers if they meet selection criteria. It was announced at a briefing by Chief of Defence Staff General N S Raja Subramani.
- Union Cabinet decision of 4 November 2026 on the Agnipath scheme
- 25% of Agniveers are enrolled in the armed forces after four years
- The remaining 75% get an additional two-year engagement, making six years in all
- After the extra two years, willing Agniveers are enrolled subject to selection criteria
- Announced at a media briefing by Chief of Defence Staff General N S Raja Subramani
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Seven-judge bench: states' sales tax surcharge reference now academic after GST; Kodar ruling stands
Background fact, detailsBackground fact: GST came into force in India on 1 July 2017
Details
A seven-judge Constitution Bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant held on 4 November 2026 that a reference pending for nearly 27 years, on states' power to levy an additional tax or surcharge calculated on sales tax, no longer needs an answer because the laws involved have been replaced or amended and GST is in force. The court said the 1974 ruling in S Kodar vs State of Kerala continues to hold the field.
- Seven-judge Constitution Bench headed by CJI Surya Kant, judgment of 4 November 2026
- Reference was about 27 years old; held academic as the provisions were replaced or amended and GST law came into force
- CJI wrote for himself and five judges; Justice K V Viswanathan wrote a separate concurring verdict
- S Kodar vs State of Kerala (1974, five-judge bench) continues to hold the field
- Kodar held a surcharge computed as a percentage of sales tax is an enhancement of the sales tax rate, under Entry 54 of List II as it then stood
Sources
Sources
- Hindustan Times
- The Hindu
- ETV Bharat
- The Hindu
- Livemint
- The Hindu
- Hindustan Times
- ThePrint
- Times Now
- India News Network
- Hindustan Times
- Storyboard18
- TRAI
- PIB (Ministry of Defence)
- The Tribune
- The Hindu
- Hindustan Times
- The Hindu
- Hindustan Times
- Hindustan Times
- DD India
- The Hindu
- LiveLaw
- Business Standard
- Bar and Bench
- Hindustan Times
- LiveLaw
- PIB
- USNI News
- The Hindu
- Hindustan Times
- Hindustan Times
- LiveLaw
- The Hindu
- Prime Minister's Office
- Hindustan Times