06 November 2026 | English | FREE Current Affairs PDF

Today’s Highlight: The Union Cabinet approved a Rs 14,500 crore energy storage scheme, a Rs 2,814 crore lithium and nickel processing scheme and a two-year extension for Agniveers, while Democrats won both chambers of the United States Congress. Cabinet schemes with their outlays, targets and ministries are regularly asked in Banking, SSC and TNPSC exams.

News in One Liner – 06 November 2026

PIB News

IndiaAI Mission Releases Foundation Models EKA-1 and Dhīr

The IndiaAI Mission released the indigenous foundation models EKA-1 and Dhīr 2B and Dhīr 5B on 3 November 2026 in New Delhi. EKA-1, developed by Soket Labs, has 26.3 billion parameters and covers all 22 scheduled Indian languages. Dhīr 2B and Dhīr 5B, introduced by ZenteiQ AiTech Innovations, are open-source assistants supporting English and 10 Indian languages.

NITI Aayog Signs Critical Minerals Statement of Intent with TEXMiN

NITI Aayog and TEXMiN (Technology Translation Research Park) at Dhanbad signed a Joint Statement of Intent on critical and strategic minerals. It supports the objectives of the National Critical Mineral Mission. Cooperation is planned in four areas, including research, policy support and capacity building.

Sonowal Aims to Double Coastal and Waterway Freight Share by 2047

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said the government plans to double the share of coastal and inland waterway shipping in India’s freight movement from 6 per cent to 12 per cent by 2047. He spoke at a Consultative Committee meeting in Puri, Odisha. The government also seeks to attract 1 million sea cruise passengers by 2029 through the Coastal Cargo Promotion Scheme and the Cruise Bharat Mission.

Cabinet Approves Rs 14,500 Crore Scheme for 92 GWh Energy Storage

The Union Cabinet approved a Rs 14,500 crore Viability Gap Funding scheme on 4 November 2026 to support 92 Gigawatt-hours of grid-scale energy storage between 2026-27 and 2030-31. It covers 60 GWh of pumped storage projects, 30 GWh of battery storage and 2 GWh of emerging technologies. Battery projects must meet a minimum domestic content requirement of 40 per cent.

Cabinet Approves Rs 2,814 Crore Scheme for Lithium and Nickel Processing

The Union Cabinet approved a Rs 2,814 crore Capital Expenditure Support Scheme on 4 November 2026 to promote domestic processing of critical minerals such as lithium and nickel. A 30 per cent capital subsidy will be given for four processing plants, two for lithium and two for nickel, over 2026-27 to 2030-31. Support is capped at Rs 500 crore per lithium beneficiary and Rs 900 crore per nickel beneficiary.

Cabinet Continues Fast Track Special Courts with Rs 3,788 Crore

The Union Cabinet approved on 4 November 2026 the continuation of the Fast Track Special Courts scheme, including exclusive courts under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, for five years from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2031. The total outlay is Rs 3,788.04 crore, and the Central share will be funded through the Nirbhaya Fund. The scheme plans up to 850 courts, up from the existing 779.

Cabinet Approves Rs 4,371 Crore VISTAR to Modernise Official Statistics

The Union Cabinet approved the Viksit Bharat Initiative for Statistical Transformation, Analytics and Research (VISTAR), a central sector scheme with an outlay of Rs 4,371.10 crore for 2026-27 to 2030-31. It covers the data work of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation and will use Artificial Intelligence and advanced analytics. The Ministry plans 59 surveys during the 16th Finance Commission cycle, compared with 43 major surveys earlier.

Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen Phase Two Extended Until March 2028

The Centre has extended Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) Phase-II until March 2028, with around Rs 7,000 crore to be allocated in the Union Budget 2027-28. The Finance Ministry’s order requires remaining villages to get the Open Defecation Free Plus certificate by 31 March 2028 and says no further extension would be considered. As per the scheme dashboard, 5.70 lakh of 5.86 lakh villages have been declared ODF Plus so far.

Defence News

Rajnath Singh Calls for Indigenous Defence Production at Delhi Defence Dialogue

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addressed the third Delhi Defence Dialogue, organised by the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, on 3 November 2026. He said indigenous production and independent sustenance of critical defence capabilities are key to military preparedness. Defence production reached a record Rs 1.78 lakh crore in 2025-26, and defence exports rose to Rs 38,424 crore.

Cabinet Approves Two-Year Extension for Agniveers

The Union Cabinet approved on 4 November 2026 an additional two-year engagement for Agniveers who are not selected for regular service after their four-year tenure. Regular employment for 25 per cent of Agniveers on merit will continue, while the remaining 75 per cent will be offered two more years depending on their willingness. Rajnath Singh described the extension as a two-year Second Tour of Duty.

Industry News

India’s Services PMI Rises to 55.8 in October, a Four-Month High

The HSBC India Services Purchasing Managers’ Index rose to 55.8 in October 2026 from 55.2 in September, the fastest pace of expansion in four months, according to S&P Global data released on 4 November. Growth was driven by stronger domestic demand and new business, with finance and insurance leading the expansion. Input price inflation eased to its lowest level since August 2020.

Railways Records Highest-Ever October Freight Loading of 145.07 Million Tonnes

Indian Railways carried 145.07 million tonnes of freight in October 2026, its highest ever for the month and 8.32 per cent more than the 133.93 million tonnes a year earlier. Food grains recorded the highest growth at 26.3 per cent, followed by domestic coal at 16 per cent. From April to October 2026, Railways transported 978.78 million tonnes of freight.

Government Notifies Bharatiya Vayuyan Niyam 2026 to Replace Aircraft Rules

The government notified the Bharatiya Vayuyan Niyam, 2026, a new set of rules for India’s civil aviation sector that replaces the nearly nine-decade-old Aircraft Rules, 1937. The rules come into effect on 1 January 2027. Airlines must determine fares on factors such as operating costs, submit tariff details to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and publish fares on their websites.

Financial News

RBI Simplifies Foreign Exchange Reporting for Small Service Exports and Imports

The Reserve Bank of India simplified foreign exchange reporting rules for service exporters and importers. Resident individuals exporting services no longer need a separate Export Declaration Form, and the same facility applies to other exporters for inward remittances of up to ten lakh rupees. The amendments were notified on 2 November 2026 and came into effect from 1 October 2026.

World News

Democrats Win Senate and House in United States Midterm Elections

Democrats won control of both the Senate and the House in the United States midterm elections held on 3 November 2026. Voters swung towards Democrats amid frustration over the war with Iran, the high cost of living and President Donald Trump’s stewardship of the country. Kansas elected its first Democratic senator since the Great Depression, and Republican Susan Collins saw her 30-year Senate career end in Maine.

Sports News

India Win Men’s 50 Metre Pistol Team Gold at World Championships

The Indian trio of Ravinder Singh, Saurabh Chaudhary and Amanpreet Singh won team gold in the men’s 50 metre pistol event at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Championships in Doha on 3 November 2026. India scored a combined 1659, while China took silver with 1648. Ravinder Singh also won silver in the individual event.

Virat Kohli Becomes Highest Run-Scorer in ODI Chases

Virat Kohli surpassed Sachin Tendulkar to become the highest run-scorer in One-Day International chases, reaching 8,741 runs in 169 innings during the first match against New Zealand at Eden Park, Auckland, on 4 November 2026. He scored 74 off 51 deliveries as India won by five wickets in a rain-affected match. India lead the five-match series 1-0.

Reports & Indices

NITI Aayog Launches India Science and Technology Scoreboard

NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Ashok Kumar Lahiri launched the India Science and Technology Scoreboard in New Delhi on 3 November 2026. It assesses the scientific and technological performance of 36 States and Union Territories using indicators such as research and development spending, publications, citations and patents. Lahiri said it is not merely a ranking exercise but a platform to help states understand their strengths and gaps.

Indian Universities Slip in QS Asia Rankings 2027, None in Top 50

None of India’s institutions made the top 50 in the Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings: Asia 2027 for the second consecutive year, and all six of India’s highest-ranked institutions slipped. IIT Delhi remains the top Indian institution but fell from 59th to 66th. India added 34 institutions to reach 325 ranked universities, the second-highest number after Mainland China.