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Daily DigestArchive
Current Affairs — Sunday, 8 November 2026
35 items
Tamil Nadu
- CM Vijay reviews expanded free bus scheme for women
— Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay reviewed the expansion of the free bus travel scheme for women, signalling continuity and enhancement of the welfare programme. (State welfare schemes — TNPSC GS Paper II) - TN government to launch health insurance for the elderly
— The state government announced a new health insurance scheme targeting senior citizens, adding to its 2026 welfare portfolio. (Social security — TNPSC Paper II) - TN to move KMUT beneficiaries above 60 to pension scheme, hike aid to ₹1,500
— Beneficiaries of the Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam aged above 60 will be shifted to the pension scheme with the monthly assistance raised to ₹1,500. (Women welfare, state schemes) - Free Breakfast Scheme to be extended to middle school students
— The Vijay government announced the extension of the free breakfast scheme (originally launched for primary school students under the previous administration) to cover middle school students. (Education welfare — TNPSC) - G.O. promoting Dr. Ambedkar Law University Registrar as temporary Director of Legal Studies to be withdrawn
— The TN government informed the Madras High Court (Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari & Justice G. Arul Murugan) that the vacancy will be filled through the regular process. (Judiciary oversight — TNPSC) - ATMED and Anna University sign MoU for medical device industry-academia collaboration
— The agreement aims to promote joint workshops, student innovations, and access to Anna University's technical infrastructure for advancing the medical devices sector. (Industry-academia — Science & Tech)
India — National
- IL-76 heavy-lift aircraft lands at Nyoma airbase — historic first
— An Indian Air Force IL-76 heavy-lift transport aircraft made a historic landing at Nyoma airbase in Ladakh, significantly boosting logistics capability near the LAC. (Defence — UPSC GS III, India-China border) - Rajnath Singh warns of evolving threats, calls for highest military readiness
— Defence Minister, addressing personnel at a key airbase near the China frontier, warned of adversaries exploiting vulnerabilities and reviewed Army's LAC infrastructure and operational preparedness. (Defence preparedness — UPSC GS III) - 10 years since Demonetisation: cash usage unchanged, fake notes on the rise
— On its 10th anniversary (November 8, 2016–2026), data reveals that stated aims of demonetisation — cashless economy, eliminating black money — remain largely unmet, with counterfeit currency increasing. (Economy history — UPSC/Bank PO) - NDA sweeps Andhra Pradesh ZPTC and MPTC elections
— TDP wins 229 ZPTCs and 4,823 MPTCs; JSP 36 and 644; BJP 8 and 130; YSRCP reduced to 20 ZPTCs and 1,050 MPTCs, including losing Pulivendula to TDP. (Panchayati Raj elections — UPSC GS II) - Lawrence Bishnoi aide Harry Boxer, who ran gang's India operations, held in US
— The arrest of a key operative of the Bishnoi gang in the United States marks a significant cross-border law enforcement development. (Internal security — UPSC GS III) - Centre mandates rice and paddy stock declaration to prevent hoarding
— The Union government allowed five southern states to impose stock limits on rice and paddy ahead of the festive season to curb hoarding and check price rise. (Food security, Essential Commodities Act — UPSC GS III) - CBIC mandates immediate scrapping of GST arrests ahead of legal amendments
— The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs issued directives under eight circulars spelling out GST reform measures including arrest guidelines. (Tax reform — UPSC/Bank PO)
Economy & Finance
- Extreme poverty in India halved to 2.6% in 2023, says World Bank
— World Bank data shows India's extreme poverty rate fell from approximately 5.3% to 2.6% in 2023, though a high prosperity gap persists due to informal work and stagnant wages. (Poverty, development — UPSC GS III, key statistic) - $2.5 trillion wiped off Nasdaq 100 as US midterm outcome adds to AI stock slump
— Democrats' gains raised prospects of tighter data-centre regulation, triggering a global sell-off; Indian equities bucked the trend and remained resilient. (Global markets — Economy awareness — Bank PO) - ADNOC signs 10-year LNG supply agreement with Gujarat Energy
— Abu Dhabi National Oil Company's fifth long-term LNG supply deal with India strengthens India's energy security from the Gulf. (Energy security, India-UAE — UPSC GS III) - Mines Ministry launches 9th round of critical mineral block auctions, offers 20 blocks
— Cumulatively, 100 unique critical and strategic mineral blocks have been offered across eight tranches, with 64 successfully auctioned so far. (Critical minerals, mining policy — UPSC GS III) - Government extends RELIEF scheme as low-margin exports struggle
— The RELIEF scheme for exporters was extended amid disruptions caused by the West Asia crisis affecting export margins. (Export promotion — Economy)
Science & Technology
- ISRO's NVS-03 navigation satellite declared fully healthy by Chairman V. Narayanan
— ISRO will conduct in-orbit payload testing for NVS-03 as part of developing NavIC, India's indigenous GPS alternative; ISRO chief also recalled Indian scientists' role in the Axiom-4 mission. (ISRO, NavIC — UPSC/TNPSC Science) - VISTAR: India shifts towards real-time, technology-driven statistical system
— The government's VISTAR initiative aims to eliminate statistical blind spots for an economy targeting developed-nation status by 2047, enabling better policy and investment decisions. (Governance, data systems — UPSC GS II) - Tokamak nuclear fusion: engineering challenges remain
— Explained pieces on how tokamaks use magnetic fields to confine plasma for nuclear fusion; no tokamak has yet achieved net commercial energy output. (Science concepts — UPSC Prelims) - Noise pollution imposing fatal stress on wildlife — major study
— Researchers analysing 200+ experimental studies on 177 species across 6 continents found that anthropogenic noise altered specific traits in 80% of animals studied. (Environment-Science — UPSC GS III)
Environment
- Haryana bans firecrackers in NCR districts, restricts to green crackers elsewhere ahead of Deepavali
— The state government imposed a full ban on conventional firecrackers in National Capital Region districts and allowed only green crackers in the rest of Haryana. (Pollution control, NGT directives — UPSC/TNPSC) - Tamil Nadu heading towards water crisis unless northeast monsoon rescues reservoirs
— Aggregate storage in TN's 15 major irrigation reservoirs stands at about one-third of combined capacity, lower than the corresponding period last year. (Water resource management — TNPSC GS Paper II) - COP31 debate: 'Overshoot' narrative risks replacing real climate action
— Climate experts caution that no COP decision has referenced quantitative carbon budgets; COP31 must deliver concrete emissions reduction commitments, not rely on overshoot assumptions. (Climate policy — UPSC GS III/Environment)
Sports
- India hockey coach Gurdial Singh Bhangu passes away at 86
— Bhangu was associated with India's historic Commonwealth Games gold in women's hockey — the 3-2 victory over England in the final at Manchester. (Sports history — TNPSC/SSC) - Towhid Hridoy hits record-breaking double century for Bangladesh vs West Indies
— Hridoy became the highest individual scorer for Bangladesh in Tests, surpassing Mushfiqur Rahim's 219; the fourth Bangladeshi batter to score a double century. (Cricket records — SSC/Bank PO awareness) - Yashasvi Jaiswal hits second century on India A tour, in top form ahead of Test series
— Jaiswal scored 102 off 138 balls, regaining form ahead of the two-Test series beginning November 19. (Cricket — Sports awareness) - Hardik Pandya misses Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy due to shin injury
— Pandya's fresh injury setback delays his return ahead of the T20 World Cup, raising concerns over his availability for the tournament. (Cricket — Sports awareness)
Appointments & Awards
- Late Justice Fathima M. Beevi honoured with Padma Bhushan
— Justice Fathima Beevi, India's first woman Supreme Court judge (appointed 1989), was posthumously awarded the Padma Bhushan for her historic contributions to the Indian judiciary. (First woman SC judge — key fact for UPSC/TNPSC) - K. Parasaran awarded Padma Vibhushan
— Eminent jurist and former Attorney General of India K. Parasaran received the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian honour. (Awards — TNPSC/UPSC) - Former CJI J.S. Khehar awarded Padma recognition
— Padma awardee Justice J.S. Khehar, known for decisions that frequently contradicted government positions, was recognised for his contribution to Indian jurisprudence. (Judiciary — UPSC GS II)
International
- Israeli President picks Gadi Eisenkot, a Netanyahu rival and former military chief, to form government
— Eisenkot, who has declined an alliance with Arab parties, was tasked with forming a new government in Israel amid ongoing political flux. (West Asia geopolitics — UPSC GS II) - US military disables cargo vessel in Gulf of Oman after Iran port visit
— A St. Kitts-flagged vessel was disabled by US precision munitions after attempting to depart regional waters following a visit to an Iranian port, escalating US-Iran maritime tensions. (International security — UPSC GS II) - Explosions reported in southern Iran; Qeshm Island mentioned
— Iranian state media reported explosions near Qeshm Island in southern Iran; officials neither confirmed nor denied missile strikes, amid heightened regional tensions. (West Asia — UPSC GS II)
- Quick Revision:
- 🔹 Justice Fathima M. Beevi — India's first woman Supreme Court judge (1989), posthumously awarded Padma Bhushan in 2026; K. Parasaran (former Attorney General) received Padma Vibhushan
- 🔹 World Bank data: India's extreme poverty fell to 2.6% in 2023 (halved from ~5.3%); ISRO's NVS-03 satellite declared fully healthy — part of NavIC (India's indigenous GPS system)
- 🔹 IL-76 aircraft made a historic landing at Nyoma airbase (Ladakh, near LAC); Demonetisation completed 10 years on November 8, 2026 — data shows cash usage largely unchanged and fake notes on the rise