5 November 2026
A two-day National Tabletop Exercise called VAJRA-SAT ended at Bengaluru on 5 November 2026.
It tested how ready India is for Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) of the serotype SAT-1 in cattle.
The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) held it with ICAR-National Institute of Veterinary Epidemiology and Disease Informatics (ICAR-NIVEDI), Bengaluru.
The theme was 'Detect early, confirm fast, contain together'.
83 participants from 25 States and three Union Territories took part, along with national institutions.
They worked through made-up outbreak situations covering early detection, laboratory confirmation, animal movement control and emergency vaccination.
FMD serotype SAT-1 has not been reported in India, so the exercise was a precaution.
Participants:
83 participants from 25 States, three Union Territories
Dates:
4-5 November 2026
Serotype:
SAT-1
Why it matters for exams: ICAR-NIVEDI and the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying are frequently asked institutions, and FMD is a standard livestock-disease question.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
FMD Foot-and-Mouth Disease — A highly infectious viral disease of cattle and other cloven-hoofed animals.
ICAR-NIVEDI ICAR-National Institute of Veterinary Epidemiology and Disease Informatics — An ICAR institute at Bengaluru that tracks animal diseases.
6 November 2026
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has issued guidelines to standardise the design and infrastructure of toll plazas.
They apply to national highways with four or more lanes that will use Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling.
MLFF charges a vehicle without making it stop at a physical barrier, so fewer lanes are needed than at a conventional plaza.
The rules cover plaza layout, lane configuration, gantries, lighting, signage and auxiliary facilities.
They also require an administrative building-cum-operations and maintenance centre at each plaza, and advance information to drivers through Electronic Variable Message Signs (VMS).
Projects still at the Detailed Project Report (DPR) stage will build the new design into their documents, while ongoing projects will adopt it through contract provisions.
The stated aims are to end queues and waiting at plazas, cut fuel use and make highway travel safer.
Applies to:
national highways with four or more lanes
Issued by:
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)
Why it matters for exams: NHAI and the full form of MLFF are standard Infrastructure questions, and the ministry that owns NHAI is asked often.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
MLFF Multi-Lane Free Flow — Tolling that reads a vehicle as it drives past, with no barrier to stop at.
VMS Variable Message Signs — Electronic boards that change the message shown to drivers.
6 November 2026
The Centre has doubled the rice sales target for 2026-27 under the Open Market Sale Scheme (Domestic), or OMSS (D), from 25 LMT to 50 LMT.
As on 31 October 2026, 25 LMT had already been sold to private parties through e-auction, against 11 LMT in the same period a year earlier.
NAFED, NCCF and Kendriya Bhandar have been given extra Bharat Rice stock to widen availability, mainly in the southern States.
An order of 6 November 2026 requires traders, wholesalers, retailers, big chains, processors and mill owners to declare their rice and paddy stock every Friday, in six categories, on the food stock portal.
An entity not registered on the portal, or breaching a prescribed stock limit, can face action under Sections 6 and 7 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.
Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana may impose stock limits on paddy and rice up to 31 January 2027.
The aim is to keep rice prices steady by moving government stock into the open market.
Revised rice sale target:
50 LMT
Earlier target:
25 LMT
Sold up to 31.10.2026:
25 LMT
Why it matters for exams: OMSS and the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 are standing Economy questions, and NAFED and NCCF are the agencies examiners ask about.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
OMSS (D) Open Market Sale Scheme (Domestic) — The scheme under which the government sells its grain stock in the open market to steady prices.
LMT Lakh Metric Tonnes — A unit used in Indian food stock figures.
6 November 2026
The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has capped the trade margin on 137 non-scheduled anti-cancer medicines at 30 per cent of the maximum retail price. Goods and Services Tax is added on top of the revised price. The cap covers patented medicines too, and the revised prices take effect from 9 November 2026. NPPA used Paragraph 19 of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013, which gives the government extraordinary powers in the public interest. Reductions in retail price range from about 20 to 70 per cent, with the largest single cut at 96.45 per cent. As on 4 November 2026, 70 companies had reported revised prices for 120 medicines covering 1,136 stock keeping units. The savings for patients are put at Rs 3,357.49 crore. NPPA works under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.
Trade margin cap:
30% of MRP
Medicines covered:
137 non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs
Estimated savings:
Rs 3,357.49 crore
New prices effective:
9 November 2026
Why it matters for exams: NPPA, the DPCO 2013 and the ministry NPPA reports to are standard questions on drug price control.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
NPPA National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority — The body that fixes and monitors medicine prices in India.
DPCO Drugs (Prices Control) Order — The order under which medicine prices are controlled; the current one is of 2013.
5 November 2026
The thirteenth Governing Body meeting of the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) was held on 5 November 2026. Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Panchayati Raj, Rajiv Ranjan Singh, also known as Lalan Singh, chaired it. The meeting took place at the Padma Shri Ayyappan Conference Hall at NFDB in Hyderabad. NFDB Chief Executive Bijay Kumar Behera presented the Board's work and its ongoing initiatives. The meeting was told that fish production has risen from 141.64 lakh tonnes in 2019-20 to 197.75 lakh tonnes. Secretary (Fisheries) Abhilaksh Likhi said seafood exports are now worth about Rs 70,000 crore. The Board was asked to reach more fish farmers, finish projects on time and support the North-Eastern and inland States. Private investment through Fish Farmer Producer Organisations and continued training of beneficiaries under PMMSY were also taken up.
Fish production:
141.64 lakh tonnes in 2019-20 to 197.75 lakh tonnes
Seafood exports:
about Rs 70,000 crore
Venue:
NFDB, Hyderabad
Why it matters for exams: NFDB, its headquarters at Hyderabad and the ministry it belongs to are repeatedly asked, and PMMSY is the central fisheries scheme.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
NFDB National Fisheries Development Board — The central body for fisheries development, with its office at Hyderabad.
PMMSY Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana — The central scheme for fisheries development.
6 November 2026
Ambassadors of four countries presented their credentials to the President of India at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 6 November 2026. President Droupadi Murmu accepted them. The four were Fatoma Thera of Mali, U Aye Min Htwe of Myanmar, Mandehatsara Georget of Madagascar and Miguel Edjang Angue of Equatorial Guinea. Presenting credentials, or letters of credence, is the step by which a head of mission is formally recognised by the receiving state. Only after it is done can an ambassador take up duties in full. Three of the four countries are in Africa, while Myanmar shares a land border with India in the north-east. India's relations with Mali, Madagascar and Equatorial Guinea are part of its wider engagement with the African continent.
Countries:
Mali, Myanmar, Madagascar, Equatorial Guinea
Venue:
Rashtrapati Bhavan
Why it matters for exams: Accepting credentials is a function of the President under the Constitution, and the capitals and locations of Mali, Madagascar and Equatorial Guinea are map questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Credentials Letters of credence — The document by which a head of mission is accredited to a host head of state.
6 November 2026
The National Health Authority held a two-day National Review Meeting at Kolkata on 5 and 6 November 2026. States and Union Territories went through how two schemes are running: AB PM-JAY, the health assurance scheme, and the digital health mission ABDM. National Health Authority Chief Executive Sunil Kumar Barnwal addressed the meeting. West Bengal became the 36th State to join PM-JAY, where the scheme was launched on 16 August 2026. In that State 4.2 crore people are now enrolled, more than four crore Ayushman Cards have been made, and 2.2 lakh have taken treatment. Tamil Nadu shared its insurance and assurance models, and Tripura presented its Model Digital Health Facility Framework. The way ahead that was settled rests on closer work between the Centre and the States, systems that talk to each other safely, firmer State Anti-Fraud Units and cybersecurity audits at fixed intervals. States were also asked to build analytics and artificial intelligence teams and to use the BODH platform to benchmark health AI tools.
Meeting:
Two-day National Review Meeting, Kolkata, 5-6 November 2026
West Bengal:
36th State to join PM-JAY, launched 16 August 2026
Ayushman Cards in West Bengal:
over four crore
Why it matters for exams: PM-JAY and ABDM expansions, the National Health Authority that runs them, and the count of States in PM-JAY are standard scheme questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
PM-JAY Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana — The health assurance arm of Ayushman Bharat.
ABDM Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission — The mission building India's digital health records system.
5 November 2026
Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada visited Hungary from 4 to 6 November 2026. He called on the Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly and met Hungary's Minister of Science and Technology. Their talks covered emerging technologies, research and innovation, and India's relations with the European Union. A day later he spoke at the India-Hungary Business Seminar held in Budapest, where more than 100 people from business were present. He named electronics, pharmaceuticals, agriculture and emerging technologies as areas to build on. He visited the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the pharmaceutical company Gedeon Richter and Foxconn's manufacturing operations in the country. A seminar put together by the Embassy of India brought Indian companies face to face with Hungarian chambers and investment agencies, and company-to-company meetings followed. He also met the Indian community at the Amrita Sher-Gil Cultural Centre in Budapest.
Visit:
4 to 6 November 2026
Business seminar:
India-Hungary Business Seminar, Budapest, more than 100 business representatives
Why it matters for exams: Hungary's capital and its parliament's name are geography and polity facts, and the Amrita Sher-Gil Cultural Centre links the visit to a painter of Indian-Hungarian descent.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Amrita Sher-Gil Indian-Hungarian painter — A painter of Indian and Hungarian parentage; the Indian cultural centre in Budapest is named after her.
6 November 2026
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has notified the Register of Interconnect Agreements (Fourth Amendment) Regulations, 2026. It was issued on 6 November 2026 and comes into force on 1 January 2027. The power to make it comes from section 11(1)(b) of the TRAI Act, 1997, at sub-sections (vii) and (viii). Service providers must now register interconnect agreements and any changes to them through TRAI's portal. An agreement already running on that date has fifteen days from it to be filed; a fresh agreement or an amendment has fifteen days from signing. Electronic copies must be in text-searchable PDF form, and the old requirement of a printed copy with a floppy disk or diskette has been removed. Looking at the Register is charged at Rs 1,500 an hour or part of an hour, and a copy or extract at Rs 500 a page.
Comes into force:
1 January 2027
Filing window:
15 days
Inspection fee:
Rs 1,500 per hour or part thereof
Copy fee:
Rs 500 per page
Why it matters for exams: The TRAI Act, 1997 and the section under which TRAI frames regulations are standard Polity and Economy questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
TRAI Telecom Regulatory Authority of India — The statutory telecom regulator set up under the TRAI Act, 1997.
Interconnect agreement Agreement between telecom service providers — The agreement that lets one operator's network connect calls and data to another's.