Daily Current Affairs — 31 October 2026
· 15 min read · TS Police Hub (Anvil Edtech)
Andhra Pradesh Cabinet clears 48 items, with a central team scheduled to assess Cyclone Arnab damage; Census 2027 Phase 2 schedule and its three reference dates; High Level Committee on Banking for Viksit Bharat under Suresh N. Patel; National Social Security Board for gig and platform workers; Rafale Marine's first landing on INS Vikrant; eight Next Generation Corvettes cleared; glacial lake outburst in Bhutan and the Sankosh alert; Novaya Gazeta announces closure; Manisha Bhanwala, India's first woman wrestling world champion; ACM Ashutosh Dixit takes charge as 29th Air Chief; Rashtriya Ekta Diwas. In brief: World Bank poverty lines, NVS-03 details. Followed by 10 practice questions.
1. Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh Cabinet Clears 48 Items; Central Team Scheduled to Assess Cyclone Damage
Why in news: The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, approved 48 agenda items on 29 October 2026, including large investment proposals. A central team was scheduled to tour the districts hit by Cyclone Arnab on 31 October and 1 November 2026.
⭐ Exam importance: Medium — State investment projects, Amaravati's Quantum Valley and the central assessment process suit State-level one-liners.
Key facts
- Central team: Two groups: one for Konaseema and Kakinada districts, the other for East and West Godavari districts.
- Damage figure: ₹4,563 crore was the preliminary estimate reported at the Cabinet stage; the State's rounded figure of about ₹4,600 crore appeared in our 30 October edition. Both are preliminary.
- Drought team: A separate ten-member central team from the Agriculture Ministry is due in Sri Sathya Sai, Anantapur, Kurnool and Nandyal districts on 2–3 November 2026.
- Amaravati: ₹1,925.32 crore cleared for mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire-safety and lift systems in the government complex; a quantum hardware manufacturing park on about 250 acres in Quantum Valley.
- Energy: A 500 MW wind power project in Kurnool district, and incentives for compressed biogas plants in Chittoor and Eluru districts.
Main investment proposals cleared| Company and project | Location | Investment |
|---|
| Steel Exchange India — steel plant | Vizianagaram district | ₹5,194 crore |
| Renaissance Solar and Electronic Materials — silicon crystal and wafer unit | Site not stated in reports | ₹3,700 crore |
| Reliance Consumer Products — beverages and drinking water plant (revised) | Orvakal, Kurnool district | ₹2,606 crore |
Static GK link
- Amaravati as capital: Under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, Hyderabad was the common capital for up to 10 years; that period ended on 2 June 2024.
- Relief funding: A central team's assessment feeds the decision on help from the National Disaster Response Fund, over and above the State Disaster Response Fund.
2. National — Polity & Governance
Census 2027 Phase 2: Population Enumeration from 25 January to 28 February 2027
Why in news: A Home Ministry notification published on 30 October 2026 fixes the main schedule of population enumeration, with online self-enumeration first and 00:00 hours of 1 March 2027 as the reference date. Poll-bound States, snow-bound areas and Manipur are outside this main schedule.
⭐ Exam importance: High — dates, the three reference dates and the Uttarakhand split are ideal multi-statement traps; census history is a repeat static area.
Census 2027 Phase 2 — who follows which schedule| Area | Self-enumeration and counting | Reference date (00:00 hours) |
|---|
| Most of India | Self-enumeration 10–24 January 2027; house-to-house 25 January–28 February 2027; revisional round 1–5 March 2027 | 1 March 2027 |
| Goa, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Uttarakhand other than its snow-bound areas | Self-enumeration 16–30 November 2026; house-to-house 1 December 2026–4 January 2027; revisional round 5–9 January 2027 | 5 January 2027 |
| Ladakh, and snow-bound areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand | Counting held in September 2026 | 1 October 2026 |
| Manipur | Deferred 'till further declaration' | Not yet fixed |
Key facts
- Uttarakhand: It appears in two lists because the State is split: snow-bound areas count with 1 October 2026 as reference, and all other areas with 5 January 2027.
- Why the early window: The Assembly terms of the four poll-bound States end by May 2027, so counting was advanced by a notification of 5 September 2026.
- Manipur: A deferral, not a cancellation: house-listing there was also put off by the 5 September 2026 notification. Manipur's Assembly term too ends by May 2027.
- Two phases: Phase 1, house-listing: 33 questions, 1 April–30 September 2026. Phase 2, population enumeration: 40 questions, including caste, notified on 14 August 2026.
- Officials: Registrar General and Census Commissioner Mrityunjay Kumar Narayan, under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik is the brand ambassador, named in March 2026.
- Milestones: 16th census overall, 8th since Independence, and the first digital one with a self-enumeration option. Also the first caste count since Independence beyond SC/ST.
Static GK link
- Legal base: Census Act, 1948. Census is Entry 69 of the Union List (Seventh Schedule, read with Article 246), so Parliament alone legislates on it.
- History: 1872 under Lord Mayo: first census, non-synchronous. 1881 under Lord Ripon: first synchronous census, with W.C. Plowden as Census Commissioner.
- Caste data: The last census to publish a full caste count was 1931. From 1951 only SC and ST data were counted and published.
3. National — Economy & Schemes
High Level Committee on Banking for Viksit Bharat Set Up Under Suresh N. Patel
Why in news: The Finance Ministry constituted the committee on 30 October 2026 with a six-month tenure. The Union Budget 2026-27 had announced it on 1 February 2026.
⭐ Exam importance: High — chair and member names, the six-month deadline and banking history are direct question material.
Key facts
- Chair: Suresh N. Patel, former Central Vigilance Commissioner.
- Members: Shirish Chandra Murmu (RBI Deputy Governor), N.S. Vishwanathan (former RBI Deputy Governor), Padmaja Chunduru (former MD and CEO, Indian Bank).
- Member Secretary: Joint Secretary (Banking), Department of Financial Services.
- Regulation and capital: Review of banking laws and prudential norms, including Regional Rural Banks and Cooperative Banks; long-term capital needs of banks, Development Financial Institutions and NBFCs; a roadmap for globally competitive banks.
- Inclusion and technology: Review of the Priority Sector Lending framework and the Lead Bank Scheme; a roadmap for AI and digital innovation with cyber safeguards; talent and capacity building.
Static GK link
- Nationalisation: 19 July 1969: 14 banks. 15 April 1980: 6 more banks.
- Public sector banks: 12 at present, after the mergers announced in August 2019 cut the number from 27 in 2017.
- Earlier panels: Narasimham Committee: 1991 (financial system) and 1998 (banking sector reforms).
- CVC: The Central Vigilance Commission has statutory status under the CVC Act, 2003.
National Social Security Board Notified for Unorganised, Gig and Platform Workers
Why in news: On 30 October 2026 the Union Labour Ministry notified the National Social Security Board for Unorganised Workers and Gig and Platform Workers under the Code on Social Security, 2020.
⭐ Exam importance: Medium — labour codes are a current favourite; chair and membership make easy statements.
Key facts
- Chair: The Union Minister for Labour and Employment.
- Members: Central and State government representatives, aggregators, employers, civil society groups, trade unions and associations of gig and platform workers.
- Functions: Recommends welfare schemes, monitors centrally administered schemes, advises on administering the Code, and examines spending from the relevant fund.
- Working: Must meet at least three times a year; reported tenure is three years from the gazette notification.
Static GK link
- Four Labour Codes: Wages (2019); Industrial Relations, Social Security, and Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (all 2020). They took effect on 21 November 2025.
- Gig worker: One who earns from work outside a traditional employer–employee relationship. The Code gave such workers legal recognition for the first time.
4. National — Science, Space & Defence
Rafale Marine Makes Its First Landing on INS Vikrant
Why in news: A Rafale Marine fighter landed on the deck of INS Vikrant for the first time on 29 October 2026, succeeding on its first attempt. The Indian Navy announced it on 30 October 2026, calling these trials an early step towards operating the aircraft.
⭐ Exam importance: High — defence deals and carrier facts are asked often, especially the 22 + 4 split and deal value.
Key facts
- Deal: Government-to-government agreement with France, April 2025; estimated ₹63,000 crore for 26 jets.
- Fleet: 22 single-seat combat aircraft and 4 twin-seat trainers, built by Dassault Aviation.
- Delivery: Expected to begin around 2028-29 and finish by 2030; it has not yet been inducted.
- Preparation: Pre-landing trials were at the Shore-Based Test Facility, INS Hansa, Goa, whose ski-jump mimics a carrier deck.
- Significance: Third fixed-wing type to land on Vikrant, after the MiG-29K and the naval LCA. The jets will operate from both Vikrant and Vikramaditya.
Static GK link
- INS Vikrant: India's first indigenously built aircraft carrier; built by Cochin Shipyard; commissioned 2 September 2022; about 45,000 tonnes.
- INS Vikramaditya: The former Soviet-era Admiral Gorshkov, bought from Russia and commissioned in 2013.
- STOBAR: Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery: jets leave by ski-jump and land using arrester wires.
CCS Clears Eight Next Generation Corvettes for the Indian Navy
Why in news: As reported on 31 October 2026, the Cabinet Committee on Security cleared defence proposals worth over ₹40,000 crore, covering eight stealthy Next Generation Corvettes. Contracts were still to be signed.
⭐ Exam importance: Medium — shipyard–project matching and the role of the CCS can be asked.
Key facts
- Builders: Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, and Goa Shipyard Limited.
- The ship: About 2,000 tonnes, speed of nearly 30 knots, new in-house Navy design; first ship expected by 2030.
- Roles: Surveillance, escort, Surface Action Group operations, search and attack, and coastal defence.
- Do not confuse: This is not Project 17B, which is a separate frigate programme. The Defence Acquisition Council gave Acceptance of Necessity for the corvettes in June 2022.
Static GK link
- CCS: Chaired by the Prime Minister; the top decision-making body on major defence purchases.
5. National — Environment & Geography
Glacial Lake Outburst in Bhutan Puts the Sankosh Basin on Alert in West Bengal and Assam
Why in news: Shintaphu (Sintaphu) Lake in Bhutan's Gasa district burst on 29 October 2026. India's Central Water Commission issued a special advisory for a sudden rise in the Sankosh, and people were moved to safety in Alipurduar, West Bengal.
⭐ Exam importance: High — GLOF is a standard disaster topic, and the river's change of name across the border is a classic geography question.
Key facts
- Course of the flood: The water entered the Mo Chhu in Bhutan and moved downstream towards the Sankosh system.
- Indian districts watched: West Bengal: Alipurduar, along with Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar. Assam: Dhubri and Kokrajhar.
- Impact in India: More than 10,000 people were reported shifted in Alipurduar as a precaution. No major flooding in India was confirmed in early reports, and levels were seen receding on 30 October.
- Impact in Bhutan: Damage at the Gasa Tshachu hot springs and on the Punakha–Gasa road. The exact trigger had not been established in the first reports.
- Numbers vary: The volume released, reported as about 7.4 million cubic metres, is not an official figure, so do not memorise it.
Static GK link
- One river, many names: Mo Chhu and Pho Chhu meet at Punakha. Below Wangdue Phodrang the river is the Puna Tsang Chhu; in India it is the Sankosh.
- Sankosh in India: Runs along the West Bengal–Assam border and joins the Brahmaputra in Assam as a north-bank (right-bank) tributary.
- GLOF: Sudden release of water from a lake held behind ice or moraine. In India, the South Lhonak Lake outburst in Sikkim (October 2023) is the best-known recent case.
- Central Water Commission: Issues flood forecasts in India; it works under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
6. International
Russia's Novaya Gazeta Announces Its Closure
Why in news: On 30 October 2026 the Moscow newspaper Novaya Gazeta said it would end its work, blaming sustained pressure from the Russian authorities. Editor-in-chief Sergei Sokolov said staff would shut down on 9 November 2026.
⭐ Exam importance: Medium — the Nobel link and press-freedom context can appear in a statement question.
Key facts
- Background: Founded in 1993; Mikhail Gorbachev gave part of his Nobel Peace Prize money to help start it.
- Nobel: Its then editor Dmitry Muratov shared the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize with Maria Ressa of the Philippines.
- What the paper reports: Loss of its media registration after the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, blocked websites, a seized printing house, stopped reader donations, and searches and arrests of staff.
- Careful wording: News agencies call it the best-known independent outlet still working inside Russia, not the 'last' one. Novaya Gazeta Europe, run by former staff from Latvia, is separate and continues.
Static GK link
- Press freedom: The World Press Freedom Index is published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). World Press Freedom Day is 3 May.
7. Sports
Manisha Bhanwala Becomes India's First Woman Wrestling World Champion
Why in news: Manisha Bhanwala won the women's freestyle 59 kg gold at the World Wrestling Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan, on 30 October 2026. She beat Abigail Nette of the USA 8–6 in the final after trailing 0–6.
⭐ Exam importance: High — a historic first; 'first woman' versus 'second Indian overall' is an easy trap.
Key facts
- Place in history: First Indian woman with a senior world wrestling gold, and only the second Indian overall after Sushil Kumar (2010).
- Event: 24 October–1 November 2026, Barys Arena, Astana.
- Weight class: 59 kg is a non-Olympic category.
- The athlete: From Rohtak, Haryana; born in 1997; Asian champion in 2025 at 62 kg.
India's reported medals at Astana (all in women's freestyle)| Medal | Wrestler | Weight |
|---|
| Gold | Manisha Bhanwala | 59 kg |
| Silver | Neelam Sirohi | 50 kg |
| Silver | Kajal Dhochak | 76 kg |
| Bronze | Tanu Sharma | 72 kg |
Static GK link
- Governing body: United World Wrestling (UWW) runs world wrestling. Kazakhstan's capital is Astana.
- Sushil Kumar: Won India's first world wrestling title at Moscow in 2010 (men's freestyle 66 kg).
8. Awards, Appointments & Important Days
ACM Ashutosh Dixit Takes Charge as 29th Air Chief; Air Marshal Inderpal Singh Walia Next Vice Chief
Why in news: Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit took charge as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff on 31 October 2026, succeeding Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, who retired. The Defence Ministry announced on 30 October 2026 that Air Marshal Inderpal Singh Walia would become Vice Chief from 1 November 2026.
⭐ Exam importance: High — service chiefs are asked almost every year.
Key facts
- ACM Dixit: Commissioned in the fighter stream on 6 December 1986; was Vice Chief before this; more than 3,500 flying hours; Experimental Test Pilot and Qualified Flying Instructor.
- Air Marshal Walia: Commissioned on 11 June 1988; moves from Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Air Command.
Static GK link
- Current chiefs: CDS Gen N.S. Raja Subramani; Army Gen Dhiraj Seth; Navy Adm Krishna Swaminathan; Air Force ACM Ashutosh Dixit.
- Air Force facts: Set up on 8 October 1932; Air Force Day is 8 October; Arjan Singh is the only Marshal of the Indian Air Force.
Rashtriya Ekta Diwas — Sardar Patel's 151st Birth Anniversary
Why in news: National Unity Day was observed on 31 October 2026. The Prime Minister paid tribute at the Statue of Unity, Ekta Nagar, Gujarat, and the President and Vice-President paid tribute at Sardar Patel Chowk, New Delhi. 'Run for Unity' events were held across the country.
⭐ Exam importance: Medium — dates, the statue's height and Patel's role in integration are standard static questions.
Key facts
- Observance: Observed every 31 October since 2014, with the Run for Unity and a national unity pledge.
- 2026 programme: Pre-event plans for Ekta Nagar listed the National Unity Parade, scheduled for the evening for the first time, and 15 citizen-designed tableaux marking 150 years of Vande Mataram.
Static GK link
- Sardar Patel: Born 31 October 1875 at Nadiad, Gujarat; first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister; Bharat Ratna in 1991 (posthumous).
- Integration: Led the merger of more than 560 princely states. Hyderabad joined after Operation Polo in September 1948, a direct Telangana link.
- Statue of Unity: 182 metres, the world's tallest statue; on Sadhu Bet island facing the Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada; unveiled on 31 October 2018.
9. In Brief / Static Recap
In Brief: World Bank Poverty Brief — What Else It Says
Why in news: The World Bank's October 2026 Poverty and Equity Brief for India drew wide coverage on 30 October 2026. Its headline numbers appeared in our 14 October edition, so only a short recap and the additional points follow.
⭐ Exam importance: Medium — poverty lines and percentages can be asked as figures.
World Bank poverty lines (2021 PPP, per person per day)| Line | Used for | India |
|---|
| USD 3.00 | Extreme poverty | 27.1% (2011) to 2.6% (2023) |
| USD 4.20 | Lower-middle-income countries | 57.7% (2011) to 16.1% (2023); projected 14.2% (2026), 12.1% (2028) |
| USD 8.30 | Upper-middle-income countries | Not used for India's headline figures |
Key facts
- Additional points: About 57% of the poor live in a belt from Uttar Pradesh to West Bengal; employment rose by about 134 million in 2017–2023.
- Caveats: Some gains may reflect better measurement; real wages were broadly flat; projections are indicative.
In Brief: NVS-03 — Added Mission Details
Why in news: The launch was covered in our 30 October edition; ISRO's mission brochure adds these figures.
⭐ Exam importance: Low — only useful as supporting numbers.
Key facts
- Satellite: About 2,250 kg as per ISRO; reported planned life of 12 years.
- Orbit: Transfer orbit of 170 km × 37,023 km, inclination 20.75 degrees.
- Rocket: About 50 m tall, about 420 tonnes at lift-off, three stages; the third is the CUS15 cryogenic stage.
- NavIC count: Reports listed IRNSS-1B, IRNSS-1I and NVS-01 as the working satellites before this launch; NVS-03 makes four once it reaches its final slot.
Practice questions with answers
With reference to the schedule of Census 2027 Phase 2, consider the following statements:
- In Goa, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh the reference date is 00:00 hours of 5 January 2027.
- The whole of Uttarakhand follows the same reference date as Punjab.
- Enumeration in Manipur has been deferred till further declaration.
- 1 only
- 1 and 2 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (C) 1 and 3 only
Explanation: Statements 1 and 3 are correct. Statement 2 is wrong: Uttarakhand is split. Its snow-bound areas have 1 October 2026 as the reference date, and only the other areas go with 5 January 2027.
With reference to the High Level Committee on Banking for Viksit Bharat, consider the following statements:
- It was first announced in the Union Budget 2026-27.
- Its review extends to Regional Rural Banks and Cooperative Banks.
- It will also review the Priority Sector Lending framework and the Lead Bank Scheme.
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (D) 1, 2 and 3
Explanation: All three are correct. The committee is chaired by former Central Vigilance Commissioner Suresh N. Patel and has a six-month tenure.
With reference to the river system affected by the Bhutan glacial lake outburst of October 2026, consider the following statements:
- The Mo Chhu and the Pho Chhu meet at Punakha in Bhutan.
- The Sankosh joins the Brahmaputra from the south, as a left-bank tributary.
- The Central Water Commission's advisory named Alipurduar and Dhubri for close monitoring.
- 1 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (B) 1 and 3 only
Explanation: Statements 1 and 3 are correct. Statement 2 is wrong: the Sankosh comes down from Bhutan in the north and is a north-bank (right-bank) tributary of the Brahmaputra.
Regarding the National Social Security Board notified in October 2026, consider the following statements:
- Its remit is limited to gig and platform workers and excludes other unorganised workers.
- It is chaired by the Union Minister for Labour and Employment.
- Aggregators are among the interests represented on it.
- 2 and 3 only
- 2 only
- 1 and 2 only
- 1 and 3 only
Answer: (A) 2 and 3 only
Explanation: Statements 2 and 3 are correct. Statement 1 is wrong: the Board covers unorganised workers as well as gig and platform workers. It is set up under the Code on Social Security, 2020.
Consider the Assertion (A) and Reason (R):
Assertion (A): For most of India, the reference date of Census 2027 is 00:00 hours of 1 March 2027.
Reason (R): Census is listed as Entry 69 of the Union List.
- Both A and R are true, and R explains A
- Both A and R are true, but R does not explain A
- A is true, R is false
- A is false, R is true
Answer: (B) Both A and R are true, but R does not explain A
Explanation: Both are true, but R does not explain A. Entry 69 only gives Parliament the power to legislate on census; the date is a choice notified under the Census Act, 1948.
Consider the Assertion (A) and Reason (R):
Assertion (A): Manisha Bhanwala is the first Indian wrestler, man or woman, to win a senior World Championships gold.
Reason (R): Sushil Kumar won a senior world wrestling title in 2010.
- Both A and R are true, and R explains A
- Both A and R are true, but R does not explain A
- A is true, R is false
- A is false, R is true
Answer: (D) A is false, R is true
Explanation: A is false and R is true. Because Sushil Kumar won in 2010, Manisha is the first Indian woman and the second Indian overall, not the first Indian wrestler.
Match the person with the role in the news:
| List I | List II |
|---|
| A. Inderpal Singh Walia | 1. Chair, High Level Committee on Banking for Viksit Bharat |
| B. Suresh N. Patel | 2. Brand ambassador, Census 2027 |
| C. Sergei Sokolov | 3. Vice Chief of the Air Staff from 1 November 2026 |
| D. Sudarsan Pattnaik | 4. Editor-in-chief, Novaya Gazeta |
- A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2
- A-1, B-3, C-4, D-2
- A-3, B-1, C-2, D-4
- A-3, B-4, C-1, D-2
Answer: (A) A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2
Explanation: Walia — Vice Chief from 1 November 2026 (3); Patel — committee chair (1); Sokolov — Novaya Gazeta editor-in-chief (4); Pattnaik — Census 2027 brand ambassador (2). Hence A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2.
Match the naval platform with the correct detail:
| List I | List II |
|---|
| A. Rafale Marine | 1. Formerly the Admiral Gorshkov |
| B. Next Generation Corvette | 2. Built by Cochin Shipyard |
| C. INS Vikrant | 3. Made by Dassault Aviation |
| D. INS Vikramaditya | 4. GRSE and Goa Shipyard |
- A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1
- A-3, B-4, C-1, D-2
- A-3, B-4, C-2, D-1
- A-3, B-2, C-4, D-1
Answer: (C) A-3, B-4, C-2, D-1
Explanation: Rafale Marine — Dassault Aviation (3); Next Generation Corvette — GRSE and Goa Shipyard (4); INS Vikrant — Cochin Shipyard (2); INS Vikramaditya — formerly the Admiral Gorshkov (1). Hence A-3, B-4, C-2, D-1.
Who, as editor of Novaya Gazeta, shared the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize?
- Sergei Sokolov
- Dmitry Muratov
- Oleg Roldugin
- Mikhail Gorbachev
Answer: (B) Dmitry Muratov
Explanation: Dmitry Muratov shared the 2021 prize with Maria Ressa. Gorbachev won the prize separately and gave part of the money to help found the paper; Sokolov is the current editor-in-chief.
After the World Bank's June 2025 update, which daily poverty line (2021 PPP) applies to upper-middle-income countries?
- USD 3.65
- USD 4.20
- USD 8.30
- USD 6.85
Answer: (C) USD 8.30
Explanation: USD 8.30 is the upper-middle-income line. USD 4.20 is the lower-middle-income line and USD 3.00 the extreme poverty line; USD 3.65 and USD 6.85 were the earlier lines on 2017 PPP.