03 November 2026 | English | FREE Current Affairs PDF

Today’s Highlight: Manisha Bhanwala became the first Indian woman to win gold at the Wrestling World Championships, and the Home Ministry notified the population census for 25 January to 28 February 2027. Sports firsts and census schedules like these are regularly asked in Banking, SSC and TNPSC exams.

News in One Liner – 03 November 2026

PIB News

India’s Green Hydrogen Offtake Commitments Cross 5.5 Lakh Tonnes

Indian companies had signed green hydrogen offtake commitments of 5,55,610 metric tonnes per annum as of October 2026, which the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy says makes India the global leader in supply commitments. The year 2026 brought 18 new agreements, and over 70 per cent of the contracted volume is earmarked for exports. The projects are expected to draw investment of around Rs 90,000 crore.

Cities Forum in New Delhi Adopts Delhi Declaration on Climate Action

The second edition of the Cities Forum was held on 27 and 28 October 2026 at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi. It ended with the adoption of the Delhi Declaration, titled Local Action for Global Climate Goals, which sets out 10 shared commitments. The Declaration will now go to the Conference of the Parties (COP31) in Antalya, Türkiye. ICLEI South Asia organised the forum with the National Institute of Urban Affairs, supported by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

DRDO Scheduled VISV-2026 Defence Capabilities Showcase in New Delhi

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), with the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies, scheduled the event VISV-2026 for 30 October 2026 at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi. Raksha Rajya Mantri Sanjay Seth was due to inaugurate it. The theme was Showcasing Defence Capabilities, Strengthening Global Partnerships, and the programme included technical sessions on DRDO’s work and a panel on collaboration with friendly partner nations.

Financial News

SEBI Lengthens KYC Review Gap for Foreign Portfolio Investors

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) is rationalising the periodicity of Know Your Client (KYC) review for Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs). The review gap rises from 1 year to 2 years and from 3 years to 8 years, while one category stays at 10 years and existing relaxations for another stay unchanged. SEBI will also end the separate confirmation about changes in earlier-submitted information. The circular takes effect on 1 December 2026.

RBI Reports 19.1 Per Cent Non-Food Credit Growth for September 2026

Non-food bank credit grew 19.1 per cent year-on-year in the fortnight ended 30 September 2026, against 11.2 per cent a year earlier, the Reserve Bank of India said. The data covered 41 select scheduled commercial banks, which hold about 95 per cent of non-food credit. Credit to agriculture and industry both grew 19.5 per cent, while services grew 28.3 per cent and personal loans 17.3 per cent.

National & State News

FM Says India’s Extreme Poverty Fell From 27.1 to 2.6 Per Cent

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in a social media post that extreme poverty in India fell from 27.1 per cent to 2.6 per cent between 2011 and 2023. She said over 49 crore people moved above the lower-middle-income poverty line, and employment rose by 13.4 crore between 2017 and 2023. A news report on her post adds that the World Bank’s Poverty and Equity report of October 2026 treats this as one of the fastest declines in poverty seen anywhere.

Population Census Notified for 25 January to 28 February 2027

The Home Ministry notified a population census to be held from 25 January to 28 February 2027 in the States and Union Territories other than those named in the notification. A news report names Manipur, Goa, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir as left out, and describes the exclusions as snow-bound and poll-bound states. A revisional round will be held from 1 to 5 March 2027, and self-enumeration will be available from the 10th to the 24th of January.

Government Notifies National Social Security Board for Gig Workers

The Government notified the constitution of the National Social Security Board for unorganised, gig and platform workers. The Union Minister for Labour and Employment will preside over the Board, which will include representatives of employers, unions, aggregators and the Central and State Governments. It will propose welfare schemes, advise the Centre and monitor schemes for these workers.

Buddha Relics Exposition Held in Arunachal Pradesh Till 21 November

The Ministry of Culture and the Arunachal Pradesh Government are staging the Holy Relics of Shakyamuni Buddha exposition at Tawang, Bomdila and Namsai, running till 21 November. The Piprahwa Relics from the National Museum in New Delhi were to travel by Indian Air Force aircraft and helicopter. They will be at Tawang Monastery from the 1st to the 7th of November and return to the National Museum on 21 November.

Fifth Digital Life Certificate Campaign Announced From 1 November

The Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare announced the fifth nationwide Digital Life Certificate (DLC) campaign, to last a month from the 1st of November 2026. The Ministry called it the biggest-ever DLC campaign, with a focus on Face Authentication Technology. The Electronics and Information Technology Ministry and UIDAI will provide technical support, and services such as health check-ups and Aadhaar updation will be offered in an Utsav mode.

World News

First Life-Size Gandhi Statue Unveiled in North Dakota

A life-size statue of Mahatma Gandhi was unveiled for the first time in North Dakota, a state in the United States. It stands at Peace Park in downtown Bismarck, the state capital. The report calls it a milestone in the Indian-American community’s efforts to spread Gandhi’s message of peace and non-violence.

India and Nepal Border Forces Agree to Strengthen Border Security

The 10th Nepal-India Coordination Meeting between India’s Sashastra Seema Bal and Nepal’s Armed Police Force concluded in Kathmandu on 30 October 2026. Both sides agreed to coordinated action against cross-border crime, tighter checks at border points and smart border management, including cameras, scanners and drones. They provisionally decided that the 11th meeting will be held in New Delhi in 2027.

India to Give 430 Electric Motorbikes to Sri Lankan Fisheries Officers

Under a Memorandum of Understanding, India will supply 430 electric motorbikes for field officers in Sri Lanka’s fisheries sector. India will give a grant worth 265 million Sri Lankan rupees. The MoU was signed by Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha and Sri Lankan Fisheries Ministry Secretary Dr B.K. Kolita Kamal Jinadasa. The initiative also supports Sri Lanka’s Clean Sri Lanka programme.

India and Armenia Hold 12th Foreign Office Consultations in New Delhi

The 12th round of Foreign Office Consultations between India and Armenia took place in New Delhi on 29 October 2026. Secretary (West) Sibi George led India’s delegation and Deputy Foreign Minister Mnatsakan Safaryan led Armenia’s. The year 2027 will mark the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations, and the next round will be held in Armenia.

Awards & Honours

Prasar Bharati Engineer Wins ABU Broadcast Engineering Excellence Award

Nongmaithem Nandakumar Singh of Prasar Bharati received the Broadcast Engineering Excellence Award 2026 of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU). His innovations include DDPlayout, automated playout software, and DDSlowMo, a low-cost slow-motion replay system. The 63rd ABU General Assembly is being held in Colombo from 30 October to 3 November.

Science & Technology

TRAI Releases Draft Guidelines on Responsible Use of AI in Telecom

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) put out draft guidelines on the responsible use of artificial intelligence in telecommunication networks and services on 30 October 2026. Comments from stakeholders are invited until 27 November 2026. The draft proposes that telecom operators have an internal AI policy approved by their board of directors or an equivalent governing body, and that critical and high-severity AI incidents be reported to TRAI.

Summits & Conferences

India to Host CGIAR Science and Partnership Week in April 2027

India will host the Science and Partnership Week of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) at Yashobhoomi in New Delhi from the 12th to the 17th of April 2027. The event will link science, innovation and partnerships on food, land and water systems. ICAR Director General M. L. Jat said an exhibition will be organised and ministers from 15 to 20 countries are expected.

Sports News

Manisha Bhanwala Becomes First Indian Woman World Wrestling Champion

Manisha Bhanwala became the first Indian woman to win gold at the Wrestling World Championships, held in Astana, Kazakhstan. She won the women’s 59-kilogram final 8-6 against American Abigail Nette after trailing 0-6. She is the second Indian world champion after Sushil Kumar, who won the men’s 66-kilogram gold in 2010.