8 sourced news briefs · 12 practice MCQs
This study edition contains original summaries of sources linked below. Updates described as proposals, plans or announcements are not presented as completed outcomes.
Practice MCQs ↓
Science & Technology
1. International Digi Yatra trials begin at seven Indian airports
The Ministry of Civil Aviation announced trials of Digi Yatra for eligible Indian international passengers from November to December 2026. The trials cover seven airports and selected Air India and IndiGo international flights. They are trials rather than a completed nationwide international rollout.
Important exam facts
- Trial airports: Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Cochin, Mumbai, Chennai and Amritsar.
- Eligibility is limited to Indian nationals holding e-passports on selected flights.
- Travellers create an e-passport Verifiable Credential on a compatible phone using MRZ scanning and NFC; immigration and other mandatory checks still apply.
Static GK connection: Link Digi Yatra with digital identity, e-passports, near-field communication (NFC), privacy and airport passenger facilitation.
Source: PIB / Ministry of Civil Aviation, 1 November 2026
Economy & Energy
2. Ministry reports lower imported-coal dependence
A Ministry of Coal release dated 1 November said the share of imported coal in India's total coal consumption declined from 21.20% to 19.30% in its reported comparison. It also reported a 35.23% decline in coal imports for blending at domestic coal-based power plants. These are data reported by the ministry, not a claim that all coal imports have ended.
Important exam facts
- Imported coal's share in consumption declined by 1.90 percentage points in the reported comparison.
- Imports for blending at domestic coal-based power plants declined from 4.64 MT to 3.00 MT.
- The report distinguished domestic coal-based plants, imported-coal-based plants and coking coal used by steel producers.
Static GK connection: Revise India's coal sector, thermal-power fuel blending, the role of Coal India and coking coal in steelmaking.
Source: PIB / Ministry of Coal, 1 November 2026
Transport & Infrastructure
3. Bengaluru–Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper flagged off
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw flagged off a Vande Bharat Sleeper service linking SMVT Bengaluru and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), Mumbai, on 1 November. The Railways described it as an additional overnight travel option between major technology and finance centres.
Important exam facts
- Origin: Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminal (SMVT), Bengaluru; destination: CSMT, Mumbai.
- The announced route serves intermediate centres including Anantapur, Raichur, Kalaburagi, Solapur and Pune.
- The ministry differentiated the new service from the earlier Howrah–Guwahati sleeper corridor.
Static GK connection: Connect this news with Indian Railways, overnight passenger transport, economic corridors and the geographical locations of Bengaluru and Mumbai.
Source: PIB / Ministry of Railways, 1 November 2026
Social Security
4. EPFO marks 74th Foundation Day and announces citizen services
On 1 November the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation marked its 74th Foundation Day. A Ministry of Labour and Employment release reported the launch of EPFO services through WhatsApp and automatic settlement of eligible inoperative EPF accounts, while stressing worker-focused social security administration.
Important exam facts
- The occasion was EPFO's 74th Foundation Day.
- EPFO services through WhatsApp were launched at the event.
- The release said eligible inoperative-account settlement benefits were extended to one lakh accounts involving ₹5 crore.
Static GK connection: Revise the Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952, and the difference between provident-fund savings, pension and employee insurance schemes.
Source: PIB / Ministry of Labour & Employment, 1 November 2026
Internal Security
5. CISF shifts to functional sector-based supervision
The Central Industrial Security Force announced that from 1 November 2026 it replaced the earlier territorial-command arrangement with a functional sector-based structure. The Ministry of Home Affairs-backed change groups protected installations by their sector to build specialist oversight of critical infrastructure.
Important exam facts
- The restructuring took effect on 1 November 2026.
- The prior supervision model was geographically based; the revised model emphasises the type of installation.
- Examples of sector types in the official release include power, coal, steel, petroleum and natural gas.
Static GK connection: Study CISF's role as a Central Armed Police Force under the Ministry of Home Affairs and the security of airports, industrial units and vital infrastructure.
Source: PIB / Ministry of Home Affairs, 1 November 2026
Defence & Appointments
6. Ashutosh Dixit begins tenure as 29th Chief of the Air Staff
Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit formally commenced his tenure as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff on 1 November 2026, according to the Ministry of Defence. The release noted his previous experience as an experimental test pilot and outlined the guiding vision labelled VAYU.
Important exam facts
- The appointment described in the release is 29th Chief of the Air Staff.
- He began the tenure with a visit to the National War Memorial.
- The Defence Ministry described more than 3,500 flying hours and a guiding theme named VAYU.
Static GK connection: Revise the Indian Air Force command structure, Chief of the Air Staff, National War Memorial and the distinction between service chiefs and the Chief of Defence Staff.
Source: PIB / Ministry of Defence, 1 November 2026
Logistics & Economy
7. Groundbreaking held for Sindi Railway Multi-Modal Logistics Park
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways reported a bhoomipujan ceremony on 1 November for a Multi-Modal Logistics Park being developed at Sindi Railway in Maharashtra. The project is intended to improve freight connectivity and support access to international markets through the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority; completion should not be inferred from the ceremony.
Important exam facts
- Location: Sindi Railway, Wardha district, Maharashtra.
- The project involves National Highways Logistics Management Limited, a special-purpose vehicle of NHAI.
- The ministry linked the project with reduced logistics costs, exports and employment opportunities.
Static GK connection: Revise multi-modal transport, logistics efficiency, National Highways Authority of India and the location of Jawaharlal Nehru Port near Mumbai.
Source: PIB / Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, 1 November 2026
Tamil Nadu & Culture
8. Prime Minister marks Tamil Nadu Day in 1 November message
A Prime Minister's Office release on 1 November recorded greetings addressed to the people of Tamil Nadu on Tamil Nadu Day. The message recognised the state's cultural heritage and its contributions in manufacturing, textiles, electronics, health care and other industries. This story concerns the dated PMO message, not a legal notification changing a commemorative date.
Important exam facts
- The official PMO message was published on 1 November 2026.
- Industries highlighted include automobiles, textiles, electronics and emerging technologies.
- The release also referred to Tamil Nadu's cultural identity and traditions.
Static GK connection: Link the release with Tamil Nadu's cultural heritage and manufacturing geography; check the specific official calendar when answering questions on state observance dates.
Source: PIB / Prime Minister's Office, 1 November 2026
Practice MCQs
1. At how many airports were the international Digi Yatra passenger trials announced on 1 November 2026?
- Five
- Seven
- Nine
- Twelve
Show answer and explanation
B. Seven — The Ministry of Civil Aviation specified seven trial airports: Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Cochin, Mumbai, Chennai and Amritsar.
2. Which credential is required for eligible Indian passengers in the Digi Yatra international trials?
- Driving-licence QR code
- PAN-based smart card
- E-passport-based Verifiable Credential
- A paper arrival card
Show answer and explanation
C. E-passport-based Verifiable Credential — The trial uses an e-passport-based Verifiable Credential created after reading passport details and the embedded chip.
3. Which reported coal metric declined from 21.20% to 19.30%?
- Coal's contribution to national GDP
- Imported coal's share of total coal consumption
- India's renewable generation share
- Coal royalty percentage
Show answer and explanation
B. Imported coal's share of total coal consumption — The Ministry of Coal comparison concerned the share of imported coal in the country's overall coal consumption.
4. The newly flagged-off Vande Bharat Sleeper on 1 November linked Bengaluru with which major terminal?
- Howrah Junction
- New Delhi
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Mumbai
- Chennai Egmore
Show answer and explanation
C. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Mumbai — The announcement described a service between SMVT Bengaluru and CSMT Mumbai.
5. Which body celebrated its 74th Foundation Day on 1 November 2026?
- NITI Aayog
- Employees' Provident Fund Organisation
- Reserve Bank of India
- Central Vigilance Commission
Show answer and explanation
B. Employees' Provident Fund Organisation — The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) celebrated its 74th Foundation Day and announced new worker-service measures.
6. EPFO announced a new service access channel through which platform?
- WhatsApp
- Only fax
- Only postal money orders
- Only landline telegrams
Show answer and explanation
A. WhatsApp — The ministry's 1 November release explicitly reported the launch of EPFO services through WhatsApp.
7. The CISF restructuring announced on 1 November 2026 primarily changed supervision from which model to which?
- Functional to entirely territorial
- Territorial to functional sector-based
- Military to municipal police
- State police to railway police
Show answer and explanation
B. Territorial to functional sector-based — CISF moved from geographically managed sectors toward sector specialisation based on types of protected installations.
8. Who commenced tenure as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff on 1 November 2026?
- Ashutosh Dixit
- Rakesh Kumar Singh
- Anil Chauhan
- Rajesh Agrawal
Show answer and explanation
A. Ashutosh Dixit — The Defence Ministry reported that Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit began the 29th Chief of the Air Staff tenure on the stated date.
9. The Sindi Railway Multi-Modal Logistics Park is located in which state?
- Rajasthan
- Tamil Nadu
- Maharashtra
- Assam
Show answer and explanation
C. Maharashtra — Sindi Railway is in Wardha district of Maharashtra; the release describes a logistics park whose foundation ceremony was held there.
10. Which authority's special-purpose vehicle is associated with the Sindi Railway logistics park?
- SEBI
- NHAI
- Election Commission
- ISRO
Show answer and explanation
B. NHAI — National Highways Logistics Management Limited is described as a special-purpose vehicle of the National Highways Authority of India.
11. Which government office issued 1 November greetings highlighting Tamil Nadu's manufacturing and culture?
- Prime Minister's Office
- Ministry of Coal
- Geological Survey of India
- Central Industrial Security Force
Show answer and explanation
A. Prime Minister's Office — The dated message came from the Prime Minister's Office and highlighted Tamil Nadu's cultural and industrial contributions.
12. Which option correctly pairs the 1 November development and its sector?
- CISF restructuring — industrial security
- Digi Yatra international trials — coal production
- EPFO Foundation Day — naval shipbuilding
- Vande Bharat Sleeper — agricultural soil testing
Show answer and explanation
A. CISF restructuring — industrial security — The CISF restructuring concerned the specialised protection of installations and critical infrastructure.
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