Current Affairs — 8 November 2026

PM celebrates Diwali with CoBRA commandos at Karanpur, Bastar

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi spent Diwali (8 November 2026) with security personnel at the CoBRA Operations Base at Karanpur in Bastar district, Chhattisgarh.
• The base was a training centre and launchpad for anti-Naxal operations in Bastar and Abujhmad, once major Maoist strongholds.
• The PM called it the first Diwali after the country "won its decades-long war against Naxalism", and said every district is now free of Naxalism.

Revise: Prime Ministers of India

L.K. Advani enters his 100th year; PM conveys greetings

• Bharat Ratna Lal Krishna Advani entered his 100th year on 8 November 2026; the Prime Minister visited and greeted him.
• Advani was born on 8 November 1927 in Karachi (then in British India).
• He served as Union Home Minister and as Deputy Prime Minister (2002–2004).

Revise: Prime Ministers of India

India and the EU conclude negotiations for India to join Horizon Europe

• India and the European Union completed negotiations on India's association with Horizon Europe, the EU's flagship research and innovation programme (announced 7 November 2026).
• Association will let Indian researchers, institutions and companies apply for Horizon Europe funding calls and join European research consortia.
• Exploratory talks began after the India–EU Summit of 27 January 2026; formal negotiations were launched at the Trade and Technology Council (TTC) ministerial meeting in Brussels on 15 July 2026.

E20 petrol meets quality standards: 893 samples across 27 States/UTs found compliant

• The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said E20 petrol supplied by public-sector oil marketing companies met the prescribed quality standards (7 November 2026).
• 893 samples drawn across 27 States and Union Territories were found compliant.
• Oil companies had earlier rejected claims of moisture and chloride contamination in E20 petrol.

Rajnath Singh celebrates Deepawali with troops in forward areas of Sikkim

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh celebrated Deepawali with soldiers in forward areas of Sikkim on 8 November 2026.
• On 7 November he reviewed infrastructure development along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and the deployment of new equipment at the Army's Trishakti Corps in Sukna.
• At Air Force Station Bagdogra he asked the forces to keep the highest operational readiness, with focus on domain awareness, cyber resilience and information integrity.

Revise: Defence chiefs & CDS

Vice-President inaugurates Deepotsav 2026 in Ayodhya

• Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan inaugurated the Deepotsav 2026 celebrations in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, on 7 November 2026, on the eve of Diwali.
• Deepotsav is the Uttar Pradesh government's Diwali festival of lamps on the banks of the Saryu river.

Revise: Vice-Presidents of India

Piprahwa relics of the Buddha: 31,000 devotees at Tawang; exposition moves to Bomdila

• The Ministry of Culture said about 31,000 devotees paid homage to the sacred relics of Shakyamuni Buddha at Tawang Monastery, Arunachal Pradesh.
• The relics were shown at Tawang from 31 October to 7 November and moved to Bomdila on 8 November; they go to the Golden Pagoda, Namsai, from 14 November. The exposition ends on 21 November.
• It is organised by the Ministry of Culture with the Arunachal Pradesh government, the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) and the National Museum.

Revise: Dances & festivals

Sresht Raju wins equestrian team gold for Team Asia at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympics

• 15-year-old Indian rider Sresht Raju won team jumping gold as part of Team Asia, riding two clear rounds on the horse Crazy Horse Boop.
• Team Asia's other riders were from China, the UAE and Indonesia; the medal goes to a continental (mixed-nation) team.
• India's individual medals so far include Khushbu Darjada (judo silver), Dhinidhi Desinghu (swimming bronze) and Rajkumari Lanchenbi Chanu (wushu bronze).

Revise: Sports