Current Affairs — 1 November 2026
01Banking & Economy
GST collections rise 22.9% to ₹2.31 lakh crore in October 2026
- Gross GST for October 2026: ₹2,31,290 crore, up 22.9% from ₹1,88,125 crore in October 2025.
- Domestic revenue ₹1,59,044 crore (+15.8%); revenue from imports ₹72,246 crore (+42.2%).
- Refunds of ₹27,934 crore left net GST at ₹2,03,356 crore (+25.6%). April–October gross: ₹14,77,569 crore (+13.2%).
Exam point: GST came into force on 1 July 2017 through the 101st Constitutional Amendment (2016). The GST Council (Article 279A) is chaired by the Union Finance Minister.
Background: understand this
GST is a single tax that replaced many indirect taxes on 1 July 2017. Since 22 September 2025 (GST 2.0), most items fall in two slabs, 5% and 18%, with a 40% rate for luxury and sin goods. Gross collection is before refunds; net collection is after refunds. Read the full explainer →
UPI crosses ₹1 lakh crore in average daily value for the first time
- October 2026: a record 25.47 billion UPI transactions worth ₹31.53 lakh crore (NPCI data).
- Average daily value went above ₹1 lakh crore for the first time; average daily volume was about 822 million transactions.
- Volume rose about 23% year on year.
Exam point: UPI is run by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI, set up in 2008, headquartered in Mumbai). UPI was launched in April 2016.
Background: understand this
UPI lets anyone send money instantly between bank accounts using a phone. It is run by NPCI and was launched in 2016. 'Average daily value' is the month's total value divided by the number of days.
Revise: Banking history of India
Centre releases ₹1,09,019 crore as additional tax devolution to States
- Released on 31 October 2026 as an advance instalment, ahead of the festive season and to speed up States' capital spending.
- It is the second additional instalment this financial year, over and above the regular monthly release.
- Uttar Pradesh got the largest share (₹19,208 crore), followed by Bihar (₹10,845 crore).
Exam point: The share of central taxes given to States is recommended by the Finance Commission, constituted under Article 280.
Background: understand this
The Centre shares part of its tax revenue with the States. The Finance Commission (Article 280) decides the share; the 16th Finance Commission kept it at 41% for 2026–31. The money is released in instalments through the year.
Revise: The Constitution of India
Commercial LPG and jet fuel (ATF) prices raised from 1 November
- The 19-kg commercial LPG cylinder costs ₹10 more, at ₹2,820 in Delhi.
- Aviation turbine fuel (ATF) rose by ₹1.37 per litre to ₹138.50 per litre in Delhi.
- Oil marketing companies revise these prices on the 1st of every month.
Exam point: Commercial LPG is the 19-kg cylinder; domestic LPG is the 14.2-kg cylinder. Questions often test this difference.
Coal India marks 51st Foundation Day with record October output
- Coal India Limited (CIL) was formed on 1 November 1975.
- October 2026 production reached a record 67.2 million tonnes (MT); coal supply (offtake) hit a record 70.3 MT.
- CIL's production target for 2026–27 is 815 MT. Separately, the Coal Ministry said India's coal imports fell 5.83% in August 2026.
Exam point: Coal India is a Maharatna company under the Ministry of Coal, headquartered in Kolkata.
EPFO launches WhatsApp services on its 74th Foundation Day
- Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya launched EPFO services on WhatsApp: PF balance, the last five transactions and passbook details.
- Aadhaar-verified inoperative EPF accounts with balances up to ₹1,000 will be settled automatically; about one lakh accounts qualify.
- Members of these accounts do not need to file a claim.
Exam point: EPFO is a statutory body under the Ministry of Labour & Employment, set up under the Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952.
02National
Bengaluru–Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper flagged off
- Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw flagged it off on 1 November from SMVT Bengaluru (Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminal).
- It runs between SMVT Bengaluru and CSMT Mumbai as trains 27651/27652, with 16 coaches, six days a week.
- Stops include Anantapur, Guntakal, Raichur, Kalaburagi, Solapur, Pune and Kalyan. Regular service starts 2 November.
Exam point: Remember the terminals: SMVT (Bengaluru) and CSMT, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (Mumbai).
Digi Yatra trials begin for international passengers at seven airports
- Airports: Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Cochin and Amritsar.
- Runs on select Air India and IndiGo international flights during November–December 2026, for Indian e-passport holders.
- It adds to, but does not replace, passport, immigration and airline checks. A wider rollout is planned for 2027.
Exam point: Digi Yatra uses facial recognition for paperless entry at airports. It is a Ministry of Civil Aviation initiative, first launched in December 2022.
President attends Haryana's 'Hirak Jayanti' and Swami Shraddhanand centenary at Kurukshetra
- President Droupadi Murmu attended the Hirak Jayanti marking 60 years of Haryana's formation.
- She also attended the Balidan Shatabdi Samaroh at Gurukul Kurukshetra, marking 100 years since Swami Shraddhanand's martyrdom.
Exam point: Haryana was carved out of Punjab on 1 November 1966 under the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966. Swami Shraddhanand founded the Gurukul Kangri (1902) and was assassinated in December 1926.
PM to inaugurate Bharat Renewable Energy Summit & Expo on 2 November
- Venue: Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi; the summit runs 2–5 November 2026, organised by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
- Held alongside the 9th Assembly of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and the 4th International Conference on Green Hydrogen.
- India's target is 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030.
Exam point: The International Solar Alliance was launched by India and France at COP21 in Paris (2015). Its headquarters is in Gurugram, Haryana.
Revise: Prime Ministers of India
Vice-President inaugurates National Organ Transplant Games 2026
- Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan opened the games in New Delhi.
- The event features transplant recipients and is meant to promote organ donation.
Exam point: Organ donation in India is governed by the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994. NOTTO is the national body under the Health Ministry.
Revise: Vice-Presidents of India
Lok Sabha Speaker to inaugurate conference of PAC chairpersons in Thiruvananthapuram
- Om Birla will open the conference of chairpersons of Public Accounts Committees of Parliament and State legislatures.
Exam point: Parliament's PAC has 22 members (15 Lok Sabha, 7 Rajya Sabha). The Speaker appoints its chairperson, by convention from the Opposition since 1967. It examines the CAG's audit reports.
Revise: Lok Sabha Speakers
03Appointments
Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit becomes 29th Chief of the Air Staff
- He succeeds Air Chief Marshal A. P. Singh, who retired on 31 October 2026.
- Commissioned in the IAF's fighter stream on 6 December 1986; he was Vice Chief of the Air Staff before this.
- An experimental test pilot with more than 3,500 flying hours. He has set out a vision for the IAF named 'VAYU'.
Exam point: The Indian Air Force was established on 8 October 1932. Air Force Day is observed on 8 October.
Background: understand this
Service chiefs are appointed by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, headed by the Prime Minister. A chief serves three years or until age 62, whichever comes first.
Revise: Defence chiefs & CDS
Air Marshal Mehtab Singh Deswal takes over Eastern Air Command
- He is the new Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C), Eastern Air Command.
Exam point: Eastern Air Command is headquartered in Shillong, Meghalaya. The IAF has seven commands: five operational, plus Training and Maintenance.
Dinesh V. Ganvir takes charge as 55th Director General of GSI
- Dinesh Vitthalrao Ganvir is the new head of the Geological Survey of India.
- His stated priorities are mineral security, scientific work and new technology.
Exam point: GSI was set up in 1851, has its headquarters in Kolkata and works under the Ministry of Mines. Varsha Ashok Aglawe, the 54th DG (August 2026), was its first woman Director General.
SSB chief Sanjay Singhal gets additional charge of ITBP
- Sanjay Singhal, Director General of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), will also head the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).
- This follows the retirement of ITBP DG Shatrujeet Singh Kapoor on 31 October 2026.
Exam point: ITBP was raised on 24 October 1962 and guards the India–China border. SSB guards the borders with Nepal and Bhutan. Both come under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
04Science & Defence
ISRO's GSLV-F18 places navigation satellite NVS-03 in orbit
- Launched on 30 October 2026 from the Second Launch Pad, Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
- NVS-03 was placed in a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). It is the third satellite in the NVS series of second-generation NavIC satellites.
- It carries an indigenous atomic clock.
Exam point: NavIC (formerly IRNSS) is India's own satellite navigation system. It covers India and about 1,500 km beyond its borders. NVS-01 launched in May 2023 and NVS-02 in January 2025 (ISRO's 100th launch from Sriharikota).
Background: understand this
A Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit is a temporary oval orbit. After separating from the rocket, the satellite fires its own engine to climb to its final position about 36,000 km above the Earth. Read the full explainer →
INS Trishul makes port call at Souda Bay, Greece
- The Indian Navy frigate called at Souda Bay on the island of Crete during its deployment to the Mediterranean.
Exam point: Souda Bay is on Crete, Greece's largest island. INS Trishul is a Talwar-class stealth frigate.
Revise: Defence chiefs & CDS
05Sports
P. V. Sindhu and Lakshya Sen win Hylo Open singles titles in Germany
- Sindhu beat Line Kjærsfeldt of Denmark 21-12, 21-14 in the women's final at Saarbrücken on 1 November, without dropping a game all tournament. It is her second title of the season, after the Japan Open in July.
- Lakshya Sen beat Jonatan Christie of Indonesia 21-17, 21-10 in the men's final; it is his second Hylo Open title.
Exam point: The Hylo Open is a BWF World Tour Super 500 event, held in Saarbrücken, Germany.
India win both titles at the first Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship
- Held in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. It is the inaugural edition of the championship.
- India's women beat Uganda 35-15; India's men beat Sri Lanka 54-20 in the final on 31 October.
Exam point: Kabaddi originated in India. Questions may ask the host city (Ahmedabad) and the two finals' opponents (Uganda, Sri Lanka).
Revise: Sports: cups & Olympics
06Important Days
1 November: formation day of several States
- Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka (Kannada Rajyotsava), Keralam (Keralappiravi; the State was officially renamed from Kerala in August 2026) and Tamil Nadu (Tamil Nadu Day) mark 1 November 1956, when the States Reorganisation Act came into force.
- Haryana was formed on 1 November 1966; Chhattisgarh on 1 November 2000.
- The Union Territories of Lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar Islands were also constituted on 1 November 1956.
Exam point: The States Reorganisation Commission (1953) was chaired by Fazl Ali; its other members were K. M. Panikkar and H. N. Kunzru. Chhattisgarh was carved out of Madhya Pradesh.
Background: understand this
The States Reorganisation Act, 1956 redrew State boundaries mainly by language, on the advice of the Fazl Ali Commission. That is why several States share 1 November as their formation day.
Revise: CMs & Governors
This day in history · 1 Nov
- 2005Y. K. Sabharwal became Chief Justice of India
- 2001S. P. Bharucha became Chief Justice of India
- TodayObserved today: Formation day of several States (1956, 1966, 2000)
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