5 November 2026
India and Myanmar began, at Chennai, their maiden bilateral exercise in Tri-Services Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), named RAHAT MITRA. The exercise ran on two days and carried the theme Together for Humanity, Stronger through Partnership. It brought together more than 300 personnel drawn from all three services of both countries. Coordinated under the aegis of the Indian Navy, the exercise was built around professional exchanges and shared disaster response drills. The aim stated by the Ministry of Defence is better interoperability in relief operations and greater mutual trust. India placed the exercise within its Neighbourhood First policy and the MAHASAGAR vision.
Exercise:
RAHAT MITRA
Venue:
Chennai
Participants:
more than 300 personnel
Lead service:
Indian Navy
Why it matters for exams: RAHAT MITRA is the maiden India and Myanmar Tri-Services HADR exercise, coordinated under the aegis of the Indian Navy, and MAHASAGAR stands for Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
HADR Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief — Military help given to civilians after a disaster.
MAHASAGAR Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions — India maritime outreach vision for the wider Indian Ocean region.
6 November 2026
Union Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw opened the Semicon 2.0 Web Application Portal for Pillars 2, 3 and 4 of the Semicon India Programme. He also announced 12 Approved Applicants under the Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS). The India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) carries Semicon 2.0, whose approved fiscal outlay is ₹1,27,500 crore. In the first phase, 12 projects across six states won approval, with cumulative investment of over Rs.1.64 lakh crore. The release says 05 projects have already commenced commercial production. The Chips to Startup (C2S) Programme has reached 332 institutions with EDA tools.
Outlay:
₹1,27,500 crore
Approved Applicants:
12
Mission:
India Semiconductor Mission (ISM)
Institutions with EDA tools:
332 institutions
Why it matters for exams: Semicon 2.0 has ₹1,27,500 crore under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM); ECMS stands for Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme.
Kerala PSCUPSCBank
In plain words
ISM India Semiconductor Mission — The body that runs the Semicon India Programme.
ECMS Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme — Support scheme for making electronic parts in India.
6 November 2026
The advisory (No. M/23/2026) of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) goes to all film producers, applicants, and industry associations. Films given for examination and certification must be total, final and complete in all respects. The list covers final graphics, final background score, sound mix and any accessibility features such as closed captions and audio description. A film can be exhibited in theatres only in the version duly certified by the CBFC. The title given in an application shall not be construed as final, and remains liable to scrutiny by the Examining/Revising Committee. The advisory rests on the Cinematograph Act, 1952 and the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024.
Advisory number:
No. M/23/2026
Parent Act:
Cinematograph Act, 1952
Rules:
Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024
Why it matters for exams: The CBFC works under the Cinematograph Act, 1952 and the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024, and the title of a film is cleared by the Examining/Revising Committee, not by the act of applying.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
CBFC Central Board of Film Certification — The statutory body that certifies films for public exhibition in India.
6 November 2026
The Conference of Mining Ministers concluded in Goa after two days of talks on the mining sector. The Union Minister of Coal and Mines, Shri G. Kishan Reddy, said the Centre and States must work together to expedite mineral exploration, given the growing demand for critical minerals. He also spoke of enhancing States revenue through mining, better mine planning and effective mine closure practices. The Minister of State for Coal and Mines, Shri Satish Chandra Dubey, spoke of collective efforts towards mineral self-reliance. Shri Keshav Chandra, Secretary, Ministry of Mines, said the Ministry had taken note of the issues raised by participating States. Telangana, West Bengal, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala took part.
Venue:
Goa
Union Minister:
Shri G. Kishan Reddy
Secretary:
Shri Keshav Chandra
Why it matters for exams: Shri G. Kishan Reddy is the Union Minister of Coal and Mines, Shri Satish Chandra Dubey is Minister of State for Coal and Mines, and Shri Keshav Chandra is Secretary, Ministry of Mines.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Critical minerals Minerals essential for modern industry whose supply is at risk — Lithium, cobalt and rare earths are common examples.
6 November 2026
A Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) now binds the Software Development Institute (SDI) of the Indian Air Force (IAF), the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) and IITM Pravartak Technologies Foundation. The pact covers joint design and development of an indigenous system for digital communication in airborne applications. The focus is advanced algorithms for communication system and networking. The agreement was signed in the presence of Prof V Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras. The aim is less reliance on imported systems and better operational efficiency of IAF. The release ties the step to the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.
IAF institute:
Software Development Institute (SDI)
Partners:
IIT Madras and IITM Pravartak Technologies Foundation
Director, IIT Madras:
Prof V Kamakoti
Why it matters for exams: SDI stands for Software Development Institute of the Indian Air Force, and Prof V Kamakoti is Director of IIT Madras.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
MoA Memorandum of Agreement — A written understanding that binds the signing parties to joint work.
6 November 2026
The Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN) celebrated its 77th Foundation Day with a programme at CBN Headquarters Gwalior. CBN works under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, and is the oldest agency in the field of drug law enforcement in India. It regulates licit cultivation of opium poppy, oversees import and export of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursor chemicals, and runs enforcement operations under the NDPS Act 1985. The Bureau is also the Competent National Authority (CNA) of India under United Nations Conventions. It grew from the All-India Narcotics Board created on April 2, 1949, and was originally established on November 6, 1950, to unify regional opium administrations. On the occasion CBN unveiled a Hindi magazine and spoke of its Yuva Raksha work.
Headquarters:
Gwalior
Ministry:
Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance
Law enforced:
NDPS Act 1985
Established:
November 6, 1950
Why it matters for exams: CBN works under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, has its Headquarters Gwalior, enforces the NDPS Act 1985, and is the Competent National Authority of India under United Nations Conventions.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
NDPS Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances — The central law on drugs and their precursors in India.
CNA Competent National Authority — The national office that clears narcotics trade under UN treaties.
6 November 2026
Union Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences Dr T Srinivasa Kumar said the Government focuses on turning scientific research into benefits for coastal and marginalised communities. He spoke at the valedictory function of a three-day international symposium on fisheries and remote sensing at Kochi. The Deep Ocean Mission covers deep sea exploration, indigenous technologies and stronger ocean observation services. PRITHvi Vigyan is an integrated Earth system science programme covering the atmosphere, oceans, cryosphere and solid Earth. Mission Mausam aims to make India a weather-ready and climate-smart nation through better observation networks and modelling. The Ministry is also working on a Blue Economy framework. The symposium adopted the Kochi Declaration, which sought a multinational ocean observation system and open access to ocean data.
Secretary:
Dr T Srinivasa Kumar
Ministry:
Ministry of Earth Sciences
Venue:
Kochi
Why it matters for exams: Dr T Srinivasa Kumar is Union Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, which runs the Deep Ocean Mission, PRITHvi Vigyan and Mission Mausam.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
PRITHVI PRITHvi Vigyan — An integrated Earth system science programme of the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
Blue Economy Sustainable use of ocean resources — Using sea resources for growth while keeping the ocean healthy.
6 November 2026
Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) under the Department of Telecommunications signed an agreement for the Amended BharatNet Program in Telangana under the State-led model. The signing took place at Sanchar Bhawan, New Delhi. The other parties are the Government of Telangana, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), Telangana Rural Internet Infrastructure Corporation Limited (TRIICL) and Telangana Fiber Grid Corporation Limited (T-Fiber). Financial support of ₹3,189 Crore has been approved for the rollout in the State. The programme will cover 12,769 Gram Panchayats. The stated purpose is to strengthen and upgrade rural telecom infrastructure across Telangana.
Financial support:
₹3,189 Crore
Gram Panchayats covered:
12,769
Venue:
Sanchar Bhawan, New Delhi
Why it matters for exams: Digital Bharat Nidhi works under the Department of Telecommunications, and the Amended BharatNet Program in Telangana follows the State-led model with ₹3,189 Crore of support for 12,769 Gram Panchayats.
Kerala PSCUPSCBank
In plain words
DBN Digital Bharat Nidhi — The fund that pays for telecom service in unserved areas.
BSNL Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited — The central public sector telecom company.
7 November 2026
The Vice-President of India, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan, will travel to Ayodhya for Deepotsav 2026. The Vice-President will offer prayers at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple during the visit. He will also take part in the symbolic coronation ceremony of Prabhu Shri Ram in Ayodhya. He will felicitate revered saints on the occasion. The programme was announced by the Press Information Bureau.
Office:
Vice-President of India
Holder:
Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan
Place:
Ayodhya
Why it matters for exams: Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan is the Vice-President of India, and Ayodhya hosts Deepotsav 2026.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
Deepotsav Festival of lamps held at Ayodhya — An annual State-backed celebration of lamps on the river bank.
6 November 2026
The Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India and the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) launched an API integration between the Startup India Portal and the Indian Science, Technology and Engineering Facilities Map (I-STEM) Portal. The launch took place under the chairmanship of Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA). DPIIT-recognised startups can now discover and access existing scientific and testing facilities through the link. Prof. Sood said the step should lower R&D costs and avoid duplication of capital-intensive facilities. Parvinder Maini, the Scientific Secretary in that Office, took part, along with an Additional Secretary from DPIIT. DPIIT is part of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Portals linked:
Startup India Portal and I-STEM Portal
Principal Scientific Adviser:
Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood
Department:
Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)
Why it matters for exams: I-STEM stands for Indian Science, Technology and Engineering Facilities Map, DPIIT sits in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood is the Principal Scientific Adviser.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
I-STEM Indian Science, Technology and Engineering Facilities Map — A national directory of publicly funded research equipment.
DPIIT Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade — It recognises startups and sits in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Background
The Competition Commission of India is the central regulator for fair competition in the markets of India. Its own account says the Central Government established it with effect from 14th October 2003. The Act it works under is The Competition Act, 2002. A 2007 amendment Act later altered that law. That law bars anti-competitive agreements and the abuse of dominant position by enterprises, and it regulates combinations — acquisitions, the acquiring of control, and mergers — that have, or are likely to have, an appreciable adverse effect on competition within India. The Commission has a Chairperson; besides the Chairperson it has at least two and not more than six other Members, each appointed by the Central Government. Its duties are to end practices that harm competition, to protect consumers, and to ensure freedom of trade in the markets of India. It also gives opinions on competition questions referred by a statutory authority, and it carries on competition advocacy, public awareness and training. The office is at Kidwai Nagar (East) in New Delhi.
Governing Act:
The Competition Act, 2002
Year it began work:
2003
Members besides the Chairperson:
not more than six other Members
Office:
Kidwai Nagar (East)
Why it matters for exams: The strength of the Commission — a Chairperson plus two to six Members — and its parent Act are standard Economy and Polity questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC