Current Affairs — 10 November 2026
01National
Census 2027: house-to-house population count from 25 January to 28 February 2027
- The Centre has notified that the population enumeration phase of Census 2027 will run from 25 January to 28 February 2027, with 1 March 2027 as the reference date.
- People can fill in their own details online (self-enumeration) from 10 to 24 January 2027, before enumerators visit.
- Training of master trainers for this phase has begun in the states (Keralam started on 9 November).
Exam point: This is India’s 16th Census and the first fully digital one; it will also count caste. The last Census was held in 2011. Census is a Union List subject (Entry 69) and is conducted under the Census Act, 1948 by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India (Ministry of Home Affairs).
Teacher’s note
Students often mix up the two phases. Phase 1 (house-listing) counts buildings and household amenities; Phase 2 (population enumeration) counts people. If a question asks for the “reference date” of Census 2027, the answer is 1 March 2027 (snow-bound areas use an earlier date).
Revise: Constitution
Delhi gets its first Yamuna river cruise, “Namo Yamuna River Safari”
- Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal launched the cruise at Sonia Vihar on 10 November 2026.
- It runs on a 6-km stretch between Sonia Vihar and Jagatpur using electric vessels.
- It was developed by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) with the Delhi Government.
Exam point: The Yamuna is National Waterway-110. The National Waterways Act, 2016 declared 111 national waterways. NW-1 (Ganga–Bhagirathi–Hooghly, Prayagraj to Haldia) is the longest. IWAI was set up in 1986 and is headquartered at Noida.
02Economy & Banking
PLFS July–September 2026: unemployment rate eases to 5.1%
- MoSPI’s quarterly bulletin put the unemployment rate (age 15+, Current Weekly Status) at 5.1%, down from 5.4% in the previous quarter.
- Rural unemployment was 4.3% and urban 6.8%.
- Labour force participation rate rose to 55.5%; female LFPR was 34.7%.
Exam point: PLFS is run by the National Statistics Office (MoSPI) and started in 2017. Unemployment Rate = unemployed ÷ labour force × 100. Read our employment and poverty notes for RBI Grade B ESI.
India’s startup count crosses 2.62 lakh; record 55,200 recognised in FY 2025-26
- India has over 2.62 lakh DPIIT-recognised startups, which have created more than 25 lakh direct jobs.
- In FY 2025-26, about 55,200 startups were recognised, the highest in any year since Startup India began.
- Nearly half of recognised startups have at least one woman director or partner, and about 52% come from non-metro cities.
Exam point: Startup India was launched on 16 January 2016. Key support schemes: Fund of Funds for Startups (₹10,000 crore, managed by SIDBI), Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (₹945 crore) and the Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups. India is the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem. 16 January is National Startup Day.
RBI extends supersession of Abhyudaya Co-operative Bank’s board by one year
- RBI extended the supersession of the Board of Directors of Abhyudaya Co-operative Bank, Mumbai, by one year from 24 November 2026.
- The Board was first superseded on 24 November 2023; an Administrator continues to run the bank.
Exam point: RBI acted under Section 36AAA read with Section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, which lets RBI supersede the board of a co-operative bank. For commercial banks the similar power is in Section 36ACA. See our BR Act sections post.
03States
Odisha approves 600 MW Upper Indravati Pumped Storage Project
- The Odisha Cabinet, chaired by CM Mohan Charan Majhi, approved the ₹4,708.64-crore project at Ranibahal in Kalahandi district.
- Odisha Hydro Power Corporation will build it; commissioning is targeted for 2030-31.
- It is expected to generate about 1,040 million units of peak-hour electricity a year.
Exam point: A pumped storage plant works like a giant battery: it pumps water uphill when power is cheap and releases it through turbines when demand peaks. The Indravati river is a tributary of the Godavari; the Indravati Tiger Reserve is in Chhattisgarh.
04International & Awards
India and Saudi Arabia sign Haj 2027 agreement; India’s quota is 1,75,025
- Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju and Saudi Haj Minister Tawfiq Al-Rabiah signed the bilateral Haj agreement in Jeddah on 9 November 2026.
- India’s quota for Haj 2027 is 1,75,025 pilgrims.
Exam point: Haj in India is managed by the Haj Committee of India (Mumbai) under the Ministry of Minority Affairs (shifted from the Ministry of External Affairs in 2016). The Haj subsidy was ended in 2018.
M. John Harrison, 81, wins the Booker Prize 2026
- British writer M. John Harrison won the 2026 Booker Prize for his novel The End of Everything (as reported, 9 November 2026).
- At 81, he is reported to be the oldest winner of the prize. The award carries £50,000.
Exam point: The Booker Prize (1969) is for fiction in English published in the UK or Ireland. Indian winners include Arundhati Roy (1997) and Aravind Adiga (2008). The International Booker (for translated fiction) went to Banu Mushtaq’s Heart Lamp in 2025. See awards and their fields.
05Defence & Sports
India–Oman naval exercise Naseem Al Bahr begins
- The 15th edition of India–Oman naval exercise Naseem Al Bahr is being held from 9 to 12 November 2026 off Oman’s Al Batinah coast.
- INS Surat is taking part with the Royal Navy of Oman; activities include gunnery drills, manoeuvres and replenishment at sea.
Exam point: India–Oman exercises: Naseem Al Bahr (navy, first held 1993), Al Najah (army) and Eastern Bridge (air force). Oman was the first Gulf country to hold naval exercises with India. See our defence GK list.
Revise: Defence chiefs & CDS
Indian students win 2 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze at junior astronomy olympiad
- India won five medals at the 5th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics for Juniors (IOAA-Jr) in Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand (1–8 November 2026).
- Gold medallists: Siddharth Laxmisha (Puducherry) and Swara Srujal Patel (Gujarat).
Exam point: IOAA-Jr is for students under 16. India’s preparation for this event was supported by the National Council of Science Museums (Ministry of Culture).
Revise: Sports
06Important Days
World Science Day for Peace and Development — 10 November
- Observed every year under UNESCO to highlight the role of science in society.
- The 2026 theme is “Common ground through science diplomacy” (as reported).
- 10 November is also observed in India as World Immunization Day.
Exam point: UNESCO proclaimed the day in 2001; it was first celebrated in 2002. Do not confuse it with National Science Day (28 February, Raman Effect). India’s Universal Immunization Programme covers 12 vaccine-preventable diseases.
Revise: Important days
This day in history · 10 Nov
- 1698The East India Company acquired Calcutta (Kolikata), with Sutanuti and Govindapur (approx)
- 2001UNESCO proclaimed World Science Day for Peace and Development
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