Daily Current Affairs — 8 November 2026
· 11 min read · TS Police Hub (Anvil Edtech)
The Prime Minister spends Diwali with security forces at the CoBRA base in Karanpur, Bastar; the Defence Minister with the Trishakti Corps in Sikkim; Odisha's seven-month fishing ban for Olive Ridley turtles; the Buddha relics move from Tawang to Bomdila; a ₹250 coin for Muthuswami Dikshitar's 250th birth anniversary; Gadi Eisenkot tasked with forming Israel's government; Pedro Alliana becomes Paraguay's President; World Radiography Day; L.K. Advani enters his 100th year; a new Vice-Chancellor for the Indian Maritime University. Followed by 10 practice questions.
1. National — Science, Space & Defence
Prime Minister Celebrates Diwali with Security Forces at the CoBRA Operations Base in Karanpur, Bastar
Why in news: On 8 November 2026 the Prime Minister celebrated Diwali with jawans at the CoBRA Operations Base at Karanpur in Bastar, Chhattisgarh. PIB describes the base as the training base and launch pad for counter-Naxal operations in Bastar and Abujhmad.
⭐ Exam importance: High — internal security, Left Wing Extremism (LWE) and central armed police forces are core topics for police recruitment exams.
Key facts
- Forces named: The Prime Minister thanked the CRPF, CoBRA, BSF, ITBP, SSB, IRB, State police forces, the Bastar Fighters commandos and women fighters.
- Claims in the address: He called this the first Diwali with every district of the country free from Naxalism, and said that for the first time in 47 years no CRPF jawan lost his life on duty in the past year.
- Past spread of LWE: At one time more than 230 districts in nearly 20 States were affected; 76 CRPF personnel were killed in Dantewada in 2010, and over 1,000 security personnel lost their lives in Chhattisgarh alone.
- Development in LWE areas (as stated): Over 15,000 km of roads, more than 9,500 mobile towers, about 175 Eklavya schools, nearly 50 ITIs and about 50 skill development centres.
Static GK link
- CoBRA: Commando Battalion for Resolute Action — the CRPF's jungle-warfare commando wing. Government sanction came on 12 September 2008, and 10 CoBRA battalions were raised between 2008 and 2011 for LWE areas.
- Internal security in the Constitution: 'Police' and 'Public order' are in the State List (Seventh Schedule); the Union deploys central armed police forces such as the CRPF in aid of the States.
Defence Minister Spends Diwali with Trishakti Corps Soldiers at Sherathang, Sikkim
Why in news: On 8 November 2026 the Defence Minister celebrated Deepawali with soldiers of the Trishakti Corps (33 Corps) in the forward areas of Sikkim, a day after reviewing the Corps' preparedness at Sukna, West Bengal.
⭐ Exam importance: Medium — Army formations, their headquarters and current service chiefs are asked in GK sections.
Key facts
- Who was present: Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth; Eastern Command chief Lt Gen VMB Krishnan; 33 Corps commander Lt Gen Man Raj Singh Mann.
- Memorials visited: He paid homage at the Sherathang War Memorial and visited the Baba Harbhajan Singh Memorial.
- Sukna (7 November): At Sukna he called the area a critical logistics hub for Eastern India and said modern threats include hybrid war, proxy war, cyber-attacks, drones and information warfare.
Static GK link
- National War Memorial: In New Delhi; the release says about 26,000 names of fallen soldiers are inscribed there.
- Eastern Command: The Army's Eastern Command is headquartered at Kolkata; 33 Corps (Trishakti) is based at Sukna near Siliguri.
2. National — Environment & Geography
Odisha's Seven-Month Sea Fishing Ban for Olive Ridley Turtles Runs from 1 November 2026 to 31 May 2027
Why in news: Odisha's annual seasonal ban on sea fishing to protect Olive Ridley turtles came into force on 1 November 2026 and is reported to run until 31 May 2027. Fishing in the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary itself is banned all year.
⭐ Exam importance: Medium — protected areas, Olive Ridley nesting sites and IUCN status are standard environment questions.
Key facts
- Zone of the seasonal ban: Sea fishing is barred within 20 km of the coast around the mouths of the Dhamra, Devi and Rushikulya rivers (as reported).
- Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary: Notified on 27 September 1997; area 1,435 sq km; districts Kendrapara and Bhadrak; managed by the Mangrove Forest Division (Wildlife), Rajnagar.
- Why it matters: Odisha's forest department calls Gahirmatha the largest nesting ground of Olive Ridley turtles in the world.
Static GK link
- Olive Ridley turtle: IUCN status: Vulnerable; listed in Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Mass nesting is called 'arribada'.
- Odisha's three main rookeries: Gahirmatha, the Devi river mouth and the Rushikulya river mouth. Bhitarkanika National Park (saltwater crocodiles) lies next to Gahirmatha in Kendrapara district.
3. National — Society, Health & Culture
Sacred Relics of the Buddha Move from Tawang to Bomdila; Exposition Ends at Namsai on 20 November
Why in news: The Ministry of Culture said the seven-day exposition of the Holy Relics of Shakyamuni Buddha at Tawang Monastery ended on 7 November 2026 with 31,000 visitors, and the relics were flown by the Indian Air Force to Bomdila on 8 November.
⭐ Exam importance: Medium — Buddhist heritage sites, monasteries and the Piprahwa relics are asked in culture and history.
Key facts
- Organisers: Ministry of Culture with the Government of Arunachal Pradesh and the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), New Delhi.
- Tawang leg: The relics reached Tawang from the National Museum, New Delhi, on 31 October 2026 and were displayed at Gaden Namgyal Lhatse (Tawang Monastery).
- Next stops: TGL Monastery (Lower Gompa), Bomdila: 8–13 November; Golden Pagoda, Namsai: 14–20 November; return to the National Museum on 21 November 2026.
- Exhibition: An IBC exhibition at Tawang told the story of the discovery of the Piprahwa relics in 1898.
Static GK link
- Piprahwa: Piprahwa is in Siddharthnagar district of Uttar Pradesh, linked with ancient Kapilavastu; the relic casket found there in 1898 is associated with the Buddha's Shakya clan.
- Arunachal Pradesh: Tawang and Bomdila (West Kameng) are in western Arunachal Pradesh; Namsai is in the east of the State.
₹250 Commemorative Coin Marks the 250th Birth Anniversary of Carnatic Composer Muthuswami Dikshitar
Why in news: The India Government Mint is selling a ₹250 commemorative coin for the 250th Janmotsava (birth anniversary) of Sri Muttusvami Diksita. Reports say the Union Finance Minister released it at Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, on 3 November 2026.
⭐ Exam importance: Medium — commemorative coins and the Trinity of Carnatic music are frequent culture questions.
Key facts
- Coin specifications (Mint): Denomination ₹250; circular, 44 mm; 35 grams; 200 serrations; quaternary alloy.
- Sale: Sold in booklet packing by the India Government Mint for ₹6,985; it is a collector's coin, not for circulation.
Static GK link
- Muthuswami Dikshitar: Born in Tiruvarur (Tamil Nadu) in 1776; the youngest of the Trinity of Carnatic music with Tyagaraja and Syama Sastri. His mudra (signature) in compositions is 'Guruguha'.
- Famous groups of kritis: Navagraha kritis (on the nine planets) and Kamalamba Navavarna kritis.
4. International
Israel's President Tasks Yashar Leader Gadi Eisenkot with Forming the Next Government
Why in news: After consultations with the factions of the 26th Knesset, Israel's President Isaac Herzog announced on 7 November 2026 that he would task Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party, with forming the government; the tasking ceremony was set for 8 November at the President's Residence.
⭐ Exam importance: Medium — West Asia is constantly in the news; the Knesset and the process of government formation can be asked.
Key facts
- Recommendations: Factions with 67 members recommended Eisenkot, factions with 46 members recommended Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and one faction of 7 members recommended no one.
- Deadline: Under Basic Law: The Government, the tasked member has 28 days to form a government; the President may extend this by up to 14 more days.
- Status: Eisenkot is not yet Prime Minister: he becomes Prime Minister only if his government wins the Knesset's confidence.
Static GK link
- Israel basics: Parliament: Knesset (120 members). Israel borders Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Egypt, and the Mediterranean Sea.
Pedro Alliana Sworn In as Paraguay's President After Santiago Peña's Removal by Impeachment
Why in news: Paraguay's Senate reported that on 6 November 2026 a solemn joint session of Congress, presided over by Senator Basilio Núñez, swore in Vice-President Pedro Alliana as President after Santiago Peña was removed through impeachment (juicio político). Reports link his removal to the collapse of Ueno Bank.
⭐ Exam importance: Low — new heads of state and capitals appear as one-line GK questions.
Key facts
- Term: Alliana completes the 2023–2028 presidential term.
- New Vice-President: In an extraordinary session the same day, Congress chose Antonio Barrios as Vice-President unanimously, by show of hands.
Static GK link
- Paraguay basics: Landlocked South American country; capital Asunción; currency guaraní. The Andes do not pass through Paraguay.
5. Awards, Appointments & Important Days
World Radiography Day — 8 November
Why in news: World Radiography Day is observed every year on 8 November, the anniversary of Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen's discovery of X-rays in 1895.
⭐ Exam importance: Medium — important days and discoveries in physics are regular one-liners.
Key facts
- Who leads it: The International Society of Radiographers and Radiological Technologists (ISRRT), founded in 1962; member societies celebrate in their own countries.
- Purpose: To raise awareness of diagnostic imaging and radiation therapy and of the radiographer's role in health care.
Static GK link
- Röntgen: The German physicist won the first Nobel Prize in Physics in 1901 for discovering the rays later named after him (Röntgen rays / X-rays).
Bharat Ratna L.K. Advani Enters His 100th Year on 8 November
Why in news: Former Deputy Prime Minister and Bharat Ratna awardee L.K. Advani entered his 100th year on 8 November 2026; the Prime Minister's Office released a greeting.
⭐ Exam importance: Low — Bharat Ratna awardees and former Deputy Prime Ministers are asked as static GK.
Key facts
- Bharat Ratna: The Bharat Ratna for him was announced on 3 February 2024.
Static GK link
- Bharat Ratna: India's highest civilian award, instituted in 1954.
Dr Venkata Ramana Akkaraju Takes Charge as Vice-Chancellor of the Indian Maritime University
Why in news: Dr Venkata Ramana Akkaraju assumed charge as Vice-Chancellor of the Indian Maritime University (IMU) on 3 November 2026 (PIB, 8 November). He was earlier Chairman of the New Mangalore Port Authority.
⭐ Exam importance: Low — appointments to central institutions appear as one-liners.
Key facts
- Institution: IMU is a central university under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, for maritime education, training and research.
Static GK link
- Indian Maritime University: Established on 14 November 2008 by an Act of Parliament (Indian Maritime University Act, 2008); headquarters at Chennai.
Practice questions with answers
With reference to the Prime Minister's Diwali visit to Bastar on 8 November 2026, consider the following statements:
- The visit was to the CoBRA Operations Base at Karanpur.
- CoBRA is a commando wing of the Border Security Force.
- He said no CRPF jawan lost his life on duty in the past year, a first in 47 years.
- 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: CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) belongs to the CRPF, not the BSF.
Consider the Assertion (A) and Reason (R):
Assertion (A): Gadi Eisenkot has at most 42 days to form Israel's next government.
Reason (R): Basic Law: The Government gives the tasked member 28 days, which the President may extend by up to 14 days.
- 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: (A) Both A and R are true, and R explains A
Explanation: Both are true and R explains A: 28 days plus an extension of up to 14 days gives a maximum of 42 days.
Match the following:
| List I | List II |
|---|
| A. Gahirmatha | 1. CoBRA Operations Base in Bastar |
| B. Sherathang | 2. Marine sanctuary for Olive Ridley turtles |
| C. Karanpur | 3. Buddha relics at TGL Monastery, 8–13 November |
| D. Bomdila | 4. War memorial in Sikkim |
- A-1, B-4, C-2, D-3
- A-2, B-3, C-1, D-4
- A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3
- A-4, B-2, C-3, D-1
Answer: (C) A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3
Explanation: Gahirmatha is the Olive Ridley marine sanctuary in Odisha (2); Sherathang has a war memorial in Sikkim (4); Karanpur is the CoBRA base in Bastar (1); Bomdila hosts the relics at TGL Monastery (3).
World Radiography Day on 8 November marks the anniversary of the discovery of X-rays in 1895 by:
- Marie Curie
- Henri Becquerel
- J.J. Thomson
- Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen
Answer: (D) Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen
Explanation: Röntgen discovered X-rays on 8 November 1895 and received the first Nobel Prize in Physics in 1901.
With reference to the commemorative coin for Muthuswami Dikshitar, consider the following statements:
- The coin has a denomination of ₹250 and weighs 35 grams.
- Dikshitar's mudra in his compositions is 'Guruguha'.
- Dikshitar is the eldest of the Trinity of Carnatic music.
- 1 only
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (B) 1 and 2 only
Explanation: Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is wrong: Dikshitar (born 1776) is the youngest of the Trinity, with Tyagaraja and Syama Sastri.
Who was sworn in as President of Paraguay on 6 November 2026?
- Santiago Peña
- Antonio Barrios
- Pedro Alliana
- Basilio Núñez
Answer: (C) Pedro Alliana
Explanation: Vice-President Pedro Alliana took the oath after Santiago Peña was removed by impeachment; Antonio Barrios was then chosen Vice-President, and Senator Basilio Núñez presided over the session.
Consider the Assertion (A) and Reason (R):
Assertion (A): Odisha bans sea fishing near the Dhamra, Devi and Rushikulya river mouths from November to May.
Reason (R): The Olive Ridley turtle is listed as Endangered by the IUCN.
- 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: (C) A is true, R is false
Explanation: A is true: the seasonal ban protects turtles that gather to mate and nest. R is false: the Olive Ridley is Vulnerable, not Endangered, on the IUCN Red List.
With reference to the 2026 exposition of the Holy Relics of the Buddha in Arunachal Pradesh, consider the following statements:
- The Tawang leg ended on 7 November with 31,000 visitors.
- The Indian Air Force carried the relics to Bomdila.
- The last stop is the Golden Pagoda, Namsai, before the relics return to the National Museum on 21 November.
- 1 only
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (D) 1, 2 and 3
Explanation: All three are correct as per the Ministry of Culture: Tawang (31 October–7 November), Bomdila (8–13 November), Namsai (14–20 November).
The Indian Maritime University, which got a new Vice-Chancellor on 3 November 2026, was established by an Act of Parliament in:
- 2008
- 2002
- 2012
- 1999
Answer: (A) 2008
Explanation: IMU was established on 14 November 2008 under the Indian Maritime University Act, 2008; its headquarters is at Chennai.
With reference to the Defence Minister's Diwali visit to Sikkim on 8 November 2026, consider the following statements:
- He was with soldiers of the Trishakti Corps (33 Corps).
- The Chief of the Army Staff, General Dhiraj Seth, accompanied him.
- The National War Memorial is located at Sherathang.
- 1 only
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (B) 1 and 2 only
Explanation: Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is wrong: the National War Memorial is in New Delhi; Sherathang has its own war memorial in Sikkim.