Current Affairs — 11 November 2026
01Polity & Governance
Supreme Court: National Book Trust is a “State” under Article 12
- A bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Augustine George Masih held that the National Book Trust (NBT) is “State” because the government has deep and pervasive control over it (judgment of 6 November 2026, reported this week).
- The Court noted that NBT was set up by government resolutions, its chairman is appointed by the government, and a Finance Ministry official sits as its financial adviser.
- It upheld a 2012 Delhi High Court ruling.
Exam point: Article 12 defines “the State” for Part III (Fundamental Rights). If a body is “State”, citizens can enforce Fundamental Rights against it through writs (Articles 32 and 226). The test of “deep and pervasive control” comes from Pradeep Kumar Biswas (2002) and the earlier Ajay Hasia (1981) case. NBT was set up in 1957 under the Ministry of Education.
Teacher’s note
Questions often ask “Which Article defines State?” The answer is Article 12, not Article 1 (Union of States). Remember: Article 12 is the gateway to Fundamental Rights.
Revise: Constitution
Election Commission extends model code curbs to re-hired retired officials
- The ECI said Model Code of Conduct restrictions will also apply to retired officials and others engaged by State/UT governments, not just serving employees.
- Letters were sent to Goa, Manipur, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, which go to the polls in 2027.
Exam point: The Model Code of Conduct is not a law; it is a set of guidelines agreed by political parties and enforced by the ECI under its powers in Article 324. It applies from the date the election schedule is announced until results are declared.
Revise: Chief Election Commissioners
02Economy & Environment
Coal gasification incentive scheme: Round 3 opens
- Round 2 of the ₹37,500-crore coal and lignite gasification scheme closed with two applications, both from NTPC (for urea, and for methanol/DME).
- Round 3 opened on 10 November 2026; bids are due by 11 January 2027.
- The scheme, approved by the Cabinet in May 2026, targets 100 million tonnes of coal gasification by 2030.
Exam point: Coal gasification turns coal into syngas (mainly carbon monoxide and hydrogen), used to make urea, methanol, DME and hydrogen. It helps cut imports of LNG, ammonia and methanol. India has the world’s fifth-largest coal reserves (approx).
Delhi’s air: crackers caused most of the Diwali-night PM2.5; SC flags vehicles
- An analysis reported that firecrackers accounted for about 71% of Delhi’s PM2.5 on Diwali night (as reported).
- The Supreme Court said the focus must go beyond Diwali, pointing to vehicular emissions as a year-round cause.
- GRAP Stage III curbs were in force in Delhi-NCR.
Exam point: GRAP (Graded Response Action Plan) has 4 stages based on AQI (Stage III: “severe”, AQI 401–450). It is enforced by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), set up under a 2021 Act. PM2.5 particles are smaller than 2.5 micrometres.
Blackbucks to return to Chhattisgarh’s Gomarda Wildlife Sanctuary
- About 50 blackbucks will be shifted from Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary to Gomarda Wildlife Sanctuary (Raigarh–Sarangarh-Bilaigarh region).
- Blackbucks have reportedly been absent from Gomarda for over five decades.
Exam point: The blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra) is listed in Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and is the state animal of Punjab, Haryana and Andhra Pradesh. The Bishnoi community of Rajasthan is known for protecting it. Gomarda was declared a sanctuary in 1975.
Revise: Geography
03International
Russia, Ukraine and the US hold peace talks in Abu Dhabi; India calls for safe Black Sea shipping
- US-mediated trilateral talks between Russia and Ukraine began in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on 10–11 November 2026, focusing on security guarantees.
- India called for a quick end to the war and for safe navigation in the Black Sea, important for food and fertiliser trade.
- PM Modi had spoken with President Zelenskyy on 9 November and offered help, including food corridors (as reported).
Exam point: The Black Sea is bordered by Ukraine, Russia, Georgia, Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania; the Bosporus strait links it to the Sea of Marmara. The 2022 Black Sea Grain Initiative was brokered by the UN and Turkey.
Revise: World organisations
04Defence & Sports
CRPF plans to buy loitering munitions (“kamikaze drones”)
- The CRPF plans to buy loitering munitions with a strike range of about 15 km (as reported).
- Such drones can hover over an area and then dive onto a target.
Exam point: CRPF is India’s largest Central Armed Police Force, under the Ministry of Home Affairs; it was raised in 1939 as the Crown Representative’s Police. Its specialised unit CoBRA was raised in 2008. India’s indigenous loitering munitions include Nagastra-1.
Revise: Defence chiefs & CDS
Craig Ervine’s unbeaten 206: third-oldest Test double-centurion
- Zimbabwe’s Craig Ervine scored 206 not out against Afghanistan in the first Test (as reported).
- At 41 years and 82 days, he became the third-oldest player to score a Test double century and the first over 40 since Graham Gooch (1994).
Exam point: The oldest Test double-centurions are Eric Rowan (South Africa) and Jack Hobbs (England). Zimbabwe got Test status in 1992; Afghanistan in 2017 (with Ireland).
Revise: Sports
05Important Days
National Education Day — 11 November
- Observed on the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (born 11 November 1888), India’s first Education Minister (1947–1958).
- The day has been observed since 2008.
Exam point: Under Azad, India set up the UGC (1953), the first IIT at Kharagpur (1951), ICCR (1950), and the Sangeet Natak, Sahitya and Lalit Kala Akademis. He wrote India Wins Freedom and received the Bharat Ratna posthumously in 1992. See important days month-wise.
Revise: Important days
This day in history · 11 Nov
- 1888Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was born in Mecca
- 1918Armistice ended the fighting of the First World War
Sources: Supreme Court judgment (via LiveLaw), Election Commission of India, PIB (Ministry of Coal), The Hindu, Indian Express.
Get daily current affairs & job alerts freeJoin SyllabusBox for updates every day.